OBJECTIVE: To describe a practical procedure of transcervical needle biopsy of uterine myoma-like tumors using an automatic biopsy gun and its potential risks. DESIGN: Description of new biopsy procedure. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Three hundred twelve patients who had been recommended for surgery for uterine myoma-like tumors by the hospital's outside doctors. INTERVENTION(S): Transcervical needle biopsy of uterine myoma-like tumors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Successful sampling rate, duration of procedure, estimated blood loss, patient discomfort, and complications. RESULT(S): Of the 312 patients who underwent transcervical needle biopsy, specimens were obtained from 311 (99.7%). The mean (+/- SD) duration of procedure was 6.3 +/- 5.2 minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 10.4 +/- 10.9 g. There were two cases (0.6%) in which the blood loss during the procedure was in excess of 50 g, but bleeding can be conservatively controlled in such cases with an intrauterine tamponade using gauze or a balloon catheter. The level of patient pain and discomfort during the needle biopsy was significantly lower than that during endometrial curettage. No major complications requiring surgery occurred. CONCLUSION(S): Transcervical needle biopsies of uterine myoma-like tumors using an automatic biopsy gun are practical, simple, and safe. This new procedure can be of routine clinical use.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a practical procedure of transcervical needle biopsy of uterine myoma-like tumors using an automatic biopsy gun and its potential risks. DESIGN: Description of new biopsy procedure. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Three hundred twelve patients who had been recommended for surgery for uterine myoma-like tumors by the hospital's outside doctors. INTERVENTION(S): Transcervical needle biopsy of uterine myoma-like tumors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Successful sampling rate, duration of procedure, estimated blood loss, patient discomfort, and complications. RESULT(S): Of the 312 patients who underwent transcervical needle biopsy, specimens were obtained from 311 (99.7%). The mean (+/- SD) duration of procedure was 6.3 +/- 5.2 minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 10.4 +/- 10.9 g. There were two cases (0.6%) in which the blood loss during the procedure was in excess of 50 g, but bleeding can be conservatively controlled in such cases with an intrauterine tamponade using gauze or a balloon catheter. The level of patientpain and discomfort during the needle biopsy was significantly lower than that during endometrial curettage. No major complications requiring surgery occurred. CONCLUSION(S): Transcervical needle biopsies of uterine myoma-like tumors using an automatic biopsy gun are practical, simple, and safe. This new procedure can be of routine clinical use.