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Assessing the Benefit of Pipelle Biopsy in Patients With Postmenopausal Bleeding and an Atrophic-appearing Cavity

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Postmenopausal Bleeding
Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial Cancer
Registration Number
NCT05378152
Lead Sponsor
Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland
Brief Summary

Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is the occurrence of vaginal bleeding 12 months following a woman's last menstrual cycle. PMB represents one of the most common reasons for referral to gynaecology services. Approximately 10% of women with PMB will be found to have endometrial cancer. The gold standard of investigation of PMB is ambulatory gynaecology through the outpatient hysteroscopy clinic, which is often combined with Pipelle biopsy for endometrial sampling.

Up to 60% of women that present with PMB will have an atrophic-appearing cavity at hysteroscopy. This provides a challenge in obtaining a histological sample through both dilatation \& curretage (D\&C) and Pipelle biopsy. Often, scant tissue that is insufficient for clinical diagnosis is obtained.

Pipelle biopsy is associated with patient discomfort. It is also associated with costs related to the purchasing of equipment and the processing of samples in the laboratory to the sum of approximately 30 euro per sample. It is rare that a sample taken from an atrophic cavity will return any clinically meaningful result. A negative hysteroscopy reduces the probability of endometrial cancer to 0.6%.

This study aims to compare patients with PMB and atrophic-appearing cavity that undergo pipelle biopsy to those that do not. Differences in pain scores, cost saving and differences in clinical follow up will be assessed to evaluate the benefit of Pipelle biopsy in patients with PMB and atrophic-appearing cavity.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
82
Inclusion Criteria
  • Postmenopausal
  • Postmenopausal bleeding
  • Tolerates hysteroscopy
Exclusion Criteria
  • Premenopausal
  • Any lesion requiring biopsy at time of hysteroscopy
  • Obvious cause of bleeding from the vagina or cervix at time of hysteroscopy
  • History of endometrial hyperplasia/cancer

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain scoresImmediately after intervention, within 1 minute of carrying out intervention

Pain scores between groups using a 100mm visual analogue pain scale, with 100mm representing the highest level of pain

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cost saving3 months

Cost saving between the two groups

Changes in follow up3 months

Changes in follow up between groups including the number of repeat OPH assessments, follow up visits, repeat ultrasound scans and other related hospital attendances.,

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Rotunda hospital

🇮🇪

Dublin, Ireland

Rotunda hospital
🇮🇪Dublin, Ireland

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