[Diagnosis of precancerous lesions of the endometrium]

Cytodiagnosis of the precancerous lesions of the endometrium has remained unclear compared to that for cervical lesions. Endometrial cytology and biopsy have been performed for patients with atypical genital bleeding, who were over fifty, postmenopausal or nulliparous, We studied cytologic findings in cystic glandular, adenomatous and atypical hyperplasia, and compared to them in early cancer. Differential diagnosis was somewhat difficult between cystic glandular hyperplasia and benign lesions. Cytological diagnosis becomes gradually easier with progress of the lesions. A few cases with endometrial hyperplasia developed endometrial carcinoma for several years. Endometrial carcinoma has been detected even in the patients with suspicious endometrial cytology, so endometrial biopsy is still an important method. However, endometrial cytology is very easy, so we need to clarify the cytological cytological characteristics in precancerous lesions of the endometrium.