Endocervical curettage as a routine part of colposcopic examinations for abnormal cervical cytology

Two hundred seven consecutive patients with adequate colposcopy and routine endocervical curettage (ECC) were evaluated for abnormal cervical cytology. A positive ECC was found in 31 patients (15.0%). In patients with grade III cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), ECC was positive 260% more often than in patients with CIN 1 and 2 (P less than .005). The ECC was the only evidence of dysplasia in three instances. The data suggest that routine ECC should be an integral part of the colposcopic examination of patients with abnormal cytology.