Histopathologic status of endocervical canal epithelium in CIN changes localized to the ectocervix

The histopathologic assessment of endocervical canal epithelium in the presence of ectocervical CIN is a major determinant of therapy. The presence or absence of neoplastic changes within the endocervical canal is one of the main modifying factors of the therapeutic approach. In the group of 97 women examined colposcopically, ectocervical punch biopsies of the cervix and endocervical curettage samples were obtained. Patients were divided into two groups based on colposcopic ectocervical appearance. The first group of 44 patients had a mildly suspicious colposcopic ectocervical appearance. The second group of 53 cases had a highly suspicious colposcopic ectocervical appearance. A comparison of the histopathological results of ectocervical punch biopsies with those of the endocervical curettage samples presented the following: in 44 women with a mildly suspicious colposcopic ectocervical appearance, 5 (11%) had CIN type endocervical lesions. Of 57 women with a highly suspicious colposcopic ectocervical appearance 13 (24%) had endocervical CIN type lesions. Curettage of the endocervical canal is an equally important part of the assessment of CIN type changes on pair with ectocervical punch biopsy. This is particularly true in cases of a highly suspicious colposcopic ectocervical appearance.