Clinical factors affecting the diagnostic accuracy of assessing dilation and curettage vs frozen section specimens for histologic grade and depth of myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Aug;201(2):194.e1-194.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.05.003. Epub 2009 Jun 28.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to investigate clinical factors affecting accuracy of dilation and curettage (D&C) and frozen section diagnosis of endometrial cancer.

Study design: Clinical parameters affecting concordance of D&C or frozen section compared with final hysterectomy pathology were analyzed in 218 patients with endometrial cancer.

Results: The overall concordance of grade between D&C and final hysterectomy findings was 35.2% (62/176). The following factors increased accuracy of D&C: depth of uterus cavity > or = 9 cm (P = .043), deep (> 50%) myometrial invasion (P = .03), P53 positivity (P = .023), grade 2 (P = .01), and grade 3 (P = .048). When comparing frozen section with final hysterectomy findings, the concordance was 69% (58/84) in tumor grade and 87% (67/77) in myometrial invasion. Postmenopausal bleeding (P = .004) and less resistance index of endometrial lesion blood flow (P = .005) increased efficacy of grade diagnosis by frozen section.

Conclusion: Discordance with hysterectomy assessment was most common for women with D&C or frozen section diagnoses of low-grade superficial cancers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Dilatation and Curettage*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Female
  • Frozen Sections / standards*
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy*
  • Intraoperative Period
  • Middle Aged
  • Myometrium / pathology*
  • Myometrium / surgery
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index