The ability of endometrial biopsies with atypical complex hyperplasia to guide surgical management.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the clinical relevance of "qualifying comments" on pathology reports of complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of endometrial biopsy specimens with atypical hyperplasia at our institutions was performed if subsequent hysterectomy results were available for review. Endometrial biopsy results were graded on an ordinal scale (complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia vs atypical endometrial hyperplasia "cannot rule out a more severe lesion") and compared with pathology obtained at hysterectomy. Data were analyzed by using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Endometrial biopsy specimens were associated with carcinoma in 37.5% (18/48) of complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia cases and in 60% (18/30) of atypical endometrial hyperplasia-cancer cases. Atypical endometrial hyperplasia-cancer on biopsy was associated with an increased risk of discovering a malignancy at intermediate/high-risk for lymph node involvement (odds ratio 4.71, P = .0256). CONCLUSION: Biopsy specimens that show atypical endometrial hyperplasia-cancer are associated with an increased risk of finding a cancer at intermediate or high risk for nodal metastasis.