Open AccessIs dilatation and curettage obsolete for diagnosing intrauterine disorders in premenopausal patients with persistent abnormal uterine bleeding?
Author(s) -
Emanuel Mark H.,
Wamsteker Kees,
Lammes Frits B.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349709047787
Subject(s) - medicine , curettage , obstetrics , confidence interval , predictive value , population , likelihood ratios in diagnostic testing , gynecology , pre and post test probability , observational study , predictive value of tests , metrorrhagia , surgery , family planning , research methodology , environmental health
Background. To determine the predictive value of dilatation and curettage (D& C) for diagnosing intrauterine disorders in patients with persistent abnormal uterine bleeding. Methods. An observational descriptive study was performed in a large university‐affiliated teaching hospital. The suspicion of intrauterine disorders described in theater‐reports involving D & C was compared with the hysteroscopical findings in 131 premenopausal patients with persistent complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding who were referred by other gynecologists within six months after D & C. Pre‐test probability (prevalence), post‐test probabilities (predictive values) and likelihood‐ratio's were calculated. Results. The pre‐test probability for all intrauterine disorders was 0.49. The post‐test probabilities for a 'suspect’ and a ‘not suspect’ D & C were 0.61 and 0.46 respectively with an overlap of confidence‐intervals. The corresponding likelihood‐ratio's were 1.69 and 0.87 respectively. Conclusions. D & C findings were of no value in the prediction of the presence or absence of intrauterine disorders in this population with persistent complaints.