Hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy: from indications to instrumentation and techniques. A call to action

Abstract

During the last twenty years, the diagnostic approach to endometrial pathology has radically evolved. For over a century, intrauterine blind biopsy techniques were considered the gold standard procedure for the histopathological diagnosis of intrauterine diseases. The advent of hysteroscopy, which made it possible to directly visualize the uterine cavity, and the subsequent miniaturization of the instruments allowing its use in the office setting without anesthesia are considered game-changers. To date, it is feasible to retrieve a targeted eye specimen of endometrial tissue with little or no discomfort for the patient in the office setting. To pursue this aim, several technological upgrades have improved the diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy. In this paper we provide an up-to-date review of the latest evidence regarding indications, instrumentations, and techniques for hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy, to help the operator in providing an adequate endometrial sampling for histopathological analysis.

Keywords:

• Hysteroscopy
• endometrial biopsy
• AUB
• infertility
• innovations
• instrumentation
• in-office

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest and nothing to disclose.