Diagnostic accuracy of endometrial biopsy in relation to the amount of tissue

Molecular classification improves preoperative risk assessment of endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the performance of endometrial cancer (EC) molecular classification in predicting extrauterine disease after primary surgery alone and in combination with other clinical data available in preoperative setting.

METHODS

Retrospective single-center observational study including patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma treated with primary surgery between December 1994 and May 2022. Molecular profiling was performed using immunohistochemistry of p53, MLH1, PMS2, MSH2 and MSH6; and KASP genotyping of the 6 most common mutations of POLE gene. Clinical, pathological and imaging information was reviewed. Logistic regression, regression trees and random forest classification techniques (CART) were performed.

RESULTS

We enrolled 658 patients, 47 with POLEmut (7.1%), 234 with MMRd (35.6%), 95 with p53abn (14.4%) and 282 with NSMP (42.8%) tumors. Advanced stage after primary surgery (III-IV FIGO 2009) was diagnosed in 11.7% of patients, p53abn tumors showed increased extrauterine spread (34.1%) and nodal involvement (30.1%) (p < .001). In multivariate analysis, only p53abn subgroup (aOR = 16.0, CI95% = 1.5-165.1) and radiological suspicion of extrauterine disease (aOR = 24.2, CI95% = 12.2-48.2) independently predicted the finding of extrauterine disease after primary surgery. In patients with preoperative uterine-confined disease, deep myometrial and cervical involvement in radiological assessment and p53abn molecular subtype were the best variables to identify patients at-risk of occult extrauterine disease after the staging surgery.

CONCLUSION

EC molecular classification is more accurate than histotype or grade in preoperative biopsy to predict advanced disease, and together with imaging tests are the most reliable preoperative information. This work provides an initial framework for using molecular information preoperatively to tailor surgical treatment.

Fractal Dimension, Circularity, and Solidity of Cell Clusters in Liquid-Based Endometrial Cytology Are Potentially Useful for Endometrial Cancer Detection and Prognosis Prediction

Endometrial cancer (EC) in women is increasing globally, necessitating improved diagnostic methods and prognosis prediction. While endometrial histology is the conventional approach, liquid-based endometrial cytology may benefit from novel analytical techniques for cell clusters. A clinical study was conducted at the University of Fukui Hospital from 2012 to 2018, involving 210 patients with endometrial cytology. The liquid-based cytology images were analyzed using cell cluster analysis with Image J software. Logistic regression, ROC analysis, and survival analysis were employed to assess the diagnostic accuracy and prognosis between cell cluster analysis and EC/atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH). Circularity and fractal dimension demonstrated significant associations with EC and AEH, regardless of age and cytology results. The ROC analysis revealed improved diagnostic accuracy when combining fractal dimension with cytology, particularly in menopausal age groups. Lower circularity and solidity were independently associated with poor overall survival, while higher fractal dimension values correlated with poorer overall survival in Grades 2 and 3 endometrial cancers. The combination of circularity and fractal dimension with cytology improved diagnostic accuracy for both EC and AEH. Moreover, circularity, solidity, and fractal dimension may serve as prognostic indicators for endometrial cancer, contributing to the development of more refined screening and diagnostic strategies.

Effect of endometrial biopsy method on ribonucleic acid quality and gene expression analysis in patients with leiomyoma

Objective

To compare ribonucleic acid (RNA) quantity and purity in tissue collected with different endometrial sampling methods to establish the optimal tool for use in endometrial gene expression studies.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

University hospital.

Patients

Fourteen patients with submucosal leiomyomas.

Interventions

Unguided biopsies were obtained using a low-pressure suction device before hysteroscopy from 14 patients with submucosal leiomyomas followed by guided biopsy with a resectoscope loop. Fifty-seven samples were collected: 25 obtained using a suction device and 32 with a loop.

Main Outcome Measures

Total biopsy weight, RNA purity, and RNA yield for each collection method. After complementary deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, HOXA10 expression was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the endometrium overlying and remote from the leiomyoma, as similar expression throughout the cavity was a prerequisite for the use of unguided biopsy method.

Results

The median weight of the samples was significantly larger when obtained with the low-pressure suction device than with the resectoscope loop (153 vs. 20 mg). The RNA yield was similar (suction curette, 1,625 ng/mg; resectoscope loop, 1,779 ng/mg). The A260-to-A280 ratio was satisfactory for 94.7 % of the samples, with no difference between the groups. The endometrial expression of HOXA10 was similar in areas overlying the leiomyoma compared with that in remote endometrial sites (2-ΔCt = 0.0224 vs. 0.0225).

Conclusions

Low-pressure endometrial suction devices provide tissue samples with acceptable RNA purity and quantity for gene expression studies. The expression of HOXA10 did not differ between endometrial sampling sites even in the presence of leiomyomas.

Comparing endometrial biopsy results with hysteroscopic pathology in women presenting with abnormal and postmenopausal uterine bleeding

OBJECTIVE

To compare pathology results after office-based blind endometrial biopsy and pathology results from hysteroscopy in women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of biologic women presenting with AUB at a tertiary care referral care center. Patients were included if they underwent evaluation with blind endometrial biopsy performed in the office followed by hysteroscopy within one year. Hysteroscopic findings and pathology were correlated with index endometrial biopsy findings.

RESULTS

689 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age and BMI were 49 (±10) years and 31 (±8) kg/m2. The median duration of bleeding leading up to presentation was of 3.5 (1.5-9) months. Of the patients who had operative hysteroscopic pathology demonstrating endometrial polyp, 30.6 % (81) had a polyp detected on office endometrial biopsy. Of the patients who had hysteroscopic pathology demonstrating intracavitary fibroids, 0 % (0) were detected on endometrial biopsy. Of the patients who had hyperplasia without atypia on hysteroscopy, 28.6 % (4) were detected or suspected on endometrial biopsy. Of the patients who had hyperplasia with atypia on hysteroscopy, 5.9 % (1) were detected or suspected on endometrial biopsy. There were 12 cases of confirmed or suspected malignancy on hysteroscopy, of which 8.3 % (1) were detected on endometrial biopsy.

CONCLUSION

Concordance between focal findings on office hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy is low. Endometrial biopsy when malignancy is suspected has been shown to be of benefit, but in the setting of suspected benign focal pathology, blind assessment of the endometrial cavity for definitive diagnosis should be abandoned. In women with symptomatic uterine bleeding, hysteroscopic visualization is associated with increased sensitivity in identifying intrauterine pathology.

Evaluation of somatic mutations in cervicovaginal samples as a non-invasive method for the detection and molecular classification of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

The incidence of endometrial cancer is increasing worldwide. While delays in diagnosis reduce survival, case molecular misclassification might be associated with under- and over-treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic alterations to detect and molecularly classify cases of endometrial cancer using non-invasive samples.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with incident endometrial cancer (N = 139) and controls (N = 107) from a recent Spanish case-control study were included in this analysis. Overall, 339 cervicovaginal samples (out of which 228 were clinician-collected and 111 were self-collected) were analysed using a test based on next-generation sequencing (NGS), which targets 47 genes. Immunohistochemical markers were evaluated in 133 tumour samples. A total of 159 samples were used to train the detection algorithm and 180 samples were used for validation.

FINDINGS

Overall, 73% (N = 94 out of 129 clinician-collected samples, and N = 66 out of 90 self-collected samples) of endometrial cancer cases had detectable mutations in clinician-collected and self-collected samples, while the specificity was 80% (79/99) for clinician-collected samples and 90% (19/21) for self-collected samples. The molecular classifications obtained using tumour samples and non-invasive gynaecologic samples in our study showed moderate-to-good agreement. The molecular classification of cases of endometrial cancer into four groups using NGS of both clinician-collected and self-collected cervicovaginal samples yielded significant differences in disease-free survival. The cases with mutations in POLE had an excellent prognosis, whereas the cases with TP53 mutations had the poorest clinical outcome, which is consistent with the data on tumour samples.

INTERPRETATION

This study classified endometrial cancer cases into four molecular groups based on the analysis of cervicovaginal samples that showed significant differences in disease-free survival. The molecular classification of endometrial cancer in non-invasive samples may improve patient care and survival by indicating the early need for aggressive surgery, as well as reducing referrals to highly specialized hospitals in cancers with good prognosis. Validation in independent sets will confirm the potential for molecular classification in non-invasive samples.

FUNDING

This study was funded by a competitive grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the projects PI19/01835, PI23/00790, and FI20/00031, CIBERESP CB06/02/0073 and CIBERONC CB16/12/00231, CB16/12/00234 (Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund. ERDF: A way to build Europe). Samples and data were provided by Biobank HUB-ICO-IDIBELL, integrated into the Spanish Biobank Network, and funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PT20/00171) and by Xarxa de Bancs de Tumors de Catalunya (XBTC) sponsored by Pla Director d'Oncologia de Catalunya. This work was supported in part by the AECC, Grupos estables (GCTRA18014MATI). It also counts with the support of the Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Department of Business and Knowledge of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and grants to support the activities of research groups 2021SGR01354 and 2021SGR1112.

The amount of preoperative endometrial tissue surface in relation to final endometrial cancer classification

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the amount of preoperative endometrial tissue surface is related to the degree of concordance with final low- and high-grade endometrial cancer (EC). In addition, to determine whether discordance is influenced by sampling method and impacts outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study within the European Network for Individualized Treatment of Endometrial Cancer (ENITEC). Surface of preoperative endometrial tissue samples was digitally calculated using ImageJ. Tumor samples were classified into low-grade (grade 1-2 endometrioid EC (EEC)) and high-grade (grade 3 EEC + non-endometroid EC).

RESULTS

The study cohort included 573 tumor samples. Overall concordance between pre- and postoperative diagnosis was 60.0%, and 88.8% when classified into low- and high-grade EC. Upgrading (preoperative low-grade, postoperative high-grade EC) was found in 7.8% and downgrading (preoperative high-grade, postoperative low-grade EC) in 26.7%. The median endometrial tissue surface was significantly lower in concordant diagnoses when compared to discordant diagnoses, respectively 18.7 mm2 and 23.5 mm2 (P = 0.022). Sampling method did not influence the concordance in tumor classification. Patients with preoperative high-grade and postoperative low-grade showed significant lower DSS compared to patients with concordant low-grade EC (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSION

The amount of preoperative endometrial tissue surface was inversely related to the degree of concordance with final tumor low- and high-grade. Obtaining higher amount of preoperative endometrial tissue surface does not increase the concordance between pre- and postoperative low- and high-grade diagnosis in EC. Awareness of clinically relevant down- and upgrading is crucial to reduce subsequent over- or undertreatment with impact on outcome.

Diagnosis and Prediction of Endometrial Carcinoma Using Machine Learning and Artificial Neural Networks Based on Public Databases

Endometrial carcinoma (EC), a common female reproductive system malignant tumor, affects thousands of people with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study was aimed at developing a prediction model for the diagnosis of EC in the general population. First, we obtained datasets GSE63678, GSE106191, and GSE115810 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, dataset GSE17025 from the GEO database, and the RNA sequence of EC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to constitute the training, test, and validation groups, respectively. Subsequently, the 96 most significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and analyzed for function and pathway enrichment in the training group. Next, we acquired the disease-specific genes by random forest and established an artificial neural network for the diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to identify the signature across the three groups. Finally, immune infiltration was analyzed to reveal tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) alterations in EC. The top 96 DEGs (77 down-regulated and 19 up-regulated genes) were primarily enriched in the interleukin-17 signaling pathway, protein digestion and absorption, and transcriptional misregulation in cancer. Subsequently, 14 characterizing genes of EC were identified by random forest. In the training, test, and validation groups, the artificial neural network was constructed with high diagnostic accuracies of 0.882, 0.864, and 0.839, respectively, and areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of 0.928, 0.921, and 0.782, respectively. Finally, resting and activated mast cells were found to have increased in TIME. We constructed an artificial diagnostic model with excellent reliability for EC and uncovered variations in the immunological ecosystem of EC through integrated bioinformatics approaches, which might be potential diagnostic targets for EC.

Endometrial sampling at an academic hospital in South Africa: Histological findings, lessons learnt and interesting surprises

Background

Outpatient sampling is used to investigate endometrial pathology. Little is known about practice habits and local failure rates at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Objective

This study assessed the frequency of samples that showed no or limited histological representation of endometrium, and described demographic and pathological features.

Methods

All endometrial sample histology reports from the National Health Laboratory Services at the hospital from 01 July 2013 to 31 May 2017 were retrieved by searching the laboratory’s information system. Clinical variables (age, menopausal state, indication for biopsy, endometrial thickness on ultrasound) and pathological findings (macroscopic amount of tissue, histological diagnosis, microscopic presence of endometrial tissue) were extracted and statistically analysed.

Results

A total of 1926 samples were included, 91% of which were submitted for abnormal or postmenopausal bleeding. No endometrium was observed in 25% of samples and 13% showed limited endometrium. Benign diagnoses (86%) were most common, with proliferative or secretory changes, endometrial polyps and endometritis accounting for most of these. Associations between the amount of sample received and the presence of endometrial tissue (p ≤ 0.001) and benign versus malignant diagnoses (p ≤ 0.001) were noted. The greater the endometrial thickness, the greater the likelihood of obtaining more sample (bulky vs scant p < 0.001) and making a malignant versus benign diagnosis (p = 0.005).

Conclusion

These findings are in keeping with literature outside Africa. Histology reports should be explicit when terms such as ‘inadequate’ or ‘insufficient’ are used, in order to facilitate clinical decision-making.

Recurrent postmenopausal bleeding: a survey of practice among gynecologists in Scotland

BACKGROUND

The definition and management of recurrent postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) are not well described in the literature, with no consensus among the clinicians and no available contemporary UK evidence-based guidelines. We conducted this survey to examine the practice of gynecologists based in Scotland in relation to recurrent postmenopausal bleeding.

METHODS

A web-based questionnaire was sent to 200 non-training grade gynecologists in Scotland exploring their views on the definition, investigation and management of recurrent PMB. Data were extracted from the 61 responses received.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven percent of responders defined recurrent PMB as two or more episodes of PMB, while 21% defined it after three episodes. A bleed-free interval of 3 and 6 months was needed to identify a recurrence by 46% and 44% of responders, respectively. 70% would investigate recurrent PMB with a combination of transvaginal sonography, hysteroscopy and biopsy. Only 19% would arrange a pelvic MRI routinely, while 43% would never offer one. 72% would consider a hysterectomy at some stage, with 22% of responders offering it after 3 episodes of PMB with negative investigation. 18% would never offer a hysterectomy without an identified pathology. 32% of responders felt that the management of recurrent PMB required an individualized case-by-case approach.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey highlights the need for a clinical guideline to address the wide variation in the management of recurrent PMB.

Insufficient and Scant Endometrial Samples: Determining Clinicopathologic Outcomes and Consistency in Reporting

There are no widely accepted pathologic criteria for reporting endometrial samples with limited tissue and no consensus on the clinical follow-up of patients with these samples. Our study compares clinicopathologic outcomes and determines reporting consistency for these samples. This was done in 3 parts: (1) retrospective chart review of all patients with reported insufficient or scant endometrial samples from 2010 to 2013 at our center to determine repeat sampling and final pathologic diagnosis; (2) survey of gynecologists about their practice for managing patients with these samples; (3) blind review of 99 cases of previously reported scant or insufficient samples in which 4 reviewers separately reassigned cases as scant, insufficient, or diagnostic. Agreement was determined across reviewers. For part (1): 1149 patients had insufficient (49%) or scant (51%) samples with no significant difference in repeat biopsy rate (33% vs. 31%; P=0.33). Final diagnosis of uterine malignancy was higher in patients with a previous insufficient sample than with scant (19% and 9%, respectively), but this was not statistically significant. For part (2): among gynecologists surveyed, 4 of 5 reported managing patients with insufficient or scant samples similarly. For part (3): complete consensus across raters occurred in 57% of cases (Fleiss κ, 0.4891). Similar repeat biopsy rates between scant and insufficient samples suggest that our clinicians choose similar management for both terminologies. As such, distinction between insufficient and scant samples may not be necessary in pathologic reporting. Given the malignancy outcomes, both groups merit repeat sampling in the appropriate context.

New perspectives on screening and early detection of endometrial cancer

Due to the anatomical continuity of the uterine cavity with the cervix, genomic exploitation of material from routine Pap smears and other noninvasive sampling methods represent a unique opportunity to detect signs of disease using biological material shed from the upper genital tract. Recent research findings offer a promising perspective in the detection of endometrial cancer, but certain questions need to be addressed in order to accelerate the implementation of novel technologies in a routine screening or clinical setting. We discuss here new perspectives on detection of endometrial cancer using genomic and other biomarkers in minimally invasive sampling methods with a special focus on public health classic screening criteria, highlighting current gaps in knowledge.

Audit of Endometrial Cancer Pathology for a Regional Gynecological Oncology Multidisciplinary Meeting

Endometrial cancer is a common disease, and in England all cancer cases are discussed at a central multidisciplinary meeting (MDT) with pathology review. We reviewed cases discussed/reviewed at a regional Gynecology MDT comparing (i) original referral histology with review histology and (ii) final review histology with the final hysterectomy histology. Cases identified as potentially eligible for the study (n=884) were found over a 4-yr period. This was reduced to 630 due to data and other issues for the primary biopsy review, and to 488 for both biopsy and hysterectomy sample. Cases were classed by agreement by grade/type and compared by clinical management (low grade vs. high grade). Of the original biopsies, central review agreed exactly with 67% and disagreed with 33%. A total of 11.6% of low-grade cancers were upgraded to high grade on review, and 6.1% of high-grade cancers were downgraded. For the biopsy/hysterectomy comparison, this was 72.5% agreement and 27.5% disagreement, with 3.5% upgraded to high from low grade, and 7.5% downgraded from high to low grade. The main areas of significant change was the identification of high-grade serous carcinoma from low-grade endometrial cancers, as well some other high grade types (clear cell and carcinosarcoma) and the confident diagnosis of cancer as opposed to an atypical hyperplasia. Central pathology review for MDT discussion does highlight significant areas of pathologic disagreement that would affect clinical management. The audit highlights that a significant disagreement rate in reporting such material between pathologists may be inescapable, but can be reduced by review.