Discrepancy between curettage and hysterectomy histology in patients with stage 1 uterine malignancy

Histology reports of endometrial curettage and hysterectomy specimens were compared in patients with stage 1 uterine malignancy. In 63 of 117 (54%) the tumour grade or type reported in the curettage specimen differed from that described in the hysterectomy specimen; the grading was as likely to be more as less well differentiated at hysterectomy. The differences were not related to endometrial sampling technique or pre-operative intracavity radiotherapy. The results suggest that if decisions about patient management continue to be based on histological grading of tumours in endometrial curettage samples, unnecessary morbidity will be caused to some patients and inadequate treatment will be given to others.