Endometrial biopsy. Pathologic findings in 3,600 biopsies from selected patients

During a 14-year period (1959-1972), 3,600 endometrial suction biopsies were performed in the office for specific indications in selected patients. Three hundred seventy-seven biopsies (10.5%) revealed abnormal findings. Of these, 233 showed endometritis, 96 associated with necrotic decidual or placental tissue, or both; one with tuberculosis, and 136 with no specific causative agent. In 84 biopsies endometrial hyperplasia was present; 34 contained polyps from the cervix or endometrium. Eighteen malignancies were diagnosed, four of which originated in the cervix and the remainder in the endometrium. Used judiciously, the procedure is per,aps the most reliable means of evaluating the uterine cavity short of a formal dilatation and curettage..