Evaluation of endocervical curettage (ECC) in colposcopy for detecting cervical intraepithelial lesions

Behrens A, Dietl A, Adler W, Geppert CI, Hartmann A, Knöll A, Beckmann M, Mehlhorn G, Koch MC, Schulmeyer C, Seibold A, Gaß P, Stübs F (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Springer

Book Volume: 310

Pages Range: 3037-3045

DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07721-w

Abstract

Purpose: Diagnostic challenges in colposcopy arise especially in women aged 50 or older, with postmenopausal status and transformation zone type 3 (TZ3). Endocervical curettage (ECC) is a valuable tool for diagnosing intracervical lesions. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the use of ECC in colposcopy for detecting cervical intraepithelial lesions. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out of colposcopies performed in the certified Dysplasia Unit at Erlangen University Hospital between July 2016 and June 2023. Pap and human papillomavirus (HPV) results were correlated with the histologic findings via ECC, obtained during examinations or surgery. The primary outcome was the rate of accuracy between the colposcopic and histologic findings with regard to cytology, age of patients, and type of transformation zone (TZ). Results: A total of 429 colposcopies in 413 women with histologic samples obtained via ECC were included in the final analysis. In all, 355 women had TZ3. Among patients with TZ3, evidence of high-grade lesions and invasive carcinoma was also found in women with normal or low-grade abnormal cytology. For patients with normal colposcopic findings, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and CIN 3/adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) were found in 56 patients (16%), and invasive carcinoma was found in four patients (0.1%). Conclusion: This analysis suggests that ECC is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, especially for patients who present with a normal colposcopy of the cervix and vagina but have either recurrent abnormal cytologic findings or high-grade abnormal cytology indicating CIN 2 +.

Authors with CRIS profile

Annika Behrens Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Anna Dietl Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Werner Adler Lehrstuhl für Biometrie und Epidemiologie (IMBE) Carol-Immanuel Geppert Institute of Pathology Arndt Hartmann Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie Antje Knöll Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology Matthias Beckmann Lehrstuhl für Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde Grit Mehlhorn Institute of Pathology Carla Schulmeyer Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Anja Seibold Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Paul Gaß Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Frederik Stübs Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Involved external institutions

ANregiomed DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Behrens, A., Dietl, A., Adler, W., Geppert, C.-I., Hartmann, A., Knöll, A.,... Stübs, F. (2024). Evaluation of endocervical curettage (ECC) in colposcopy for detecting cervical intraepithelial lesions. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 310, 3037-3045. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-024-07721-w

MLA:

Behrens, Annika, et al. "Evaluation of endocervical curettage (ECC) in colposcopy for detecting cervical intraepithelial lesions." Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 310 (2024): 3037-3045.

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