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The role of endocervicoscopy in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a systematic review of the literature

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Abstract

Endocervicoscopy is an alternative diagnostic tool to endocervical curettage for the diagnostic workup of repeatedly positive cervicovaginal cytology suggestive of a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and negative or unsatisfactory colposcopy. The aim of this review is to summarize the current evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of endocervicoscopy in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in the presence of nonvisible squamocolumnar junction with unsatisfactory colposcopy. A systematic review of literature was performed by searching in the main electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov, OVID and Cochrane Library), from their inception to January 2021 for studies testing endocervicoscopy. Risk of Bias Assessment was performed. Four articles were included: three prospective and one retrospective cohort studies. Data on the endocervicoscopy accuracy, the accuracy and reliability correlation with definitive histology, the cone biopsy dimension after endocervicoscopy, the comparison between endocervicoscopy and curettage and the lesion missed were analyzed. Based on our results, the limit of this technique is the low predictive value that does not allow it to replace the colposcopy. Nevertheless, it could help to define the characteristics and localization of cervical-suspected lesions. However, further studies are needed to clarify its use and indication.

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No financial support was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini n° 5, 80131, Naples, Italy

    Luigi Della Corte, Antonio Mercorio, Giuseppe Bifulco & Giada Lavitola

  2. Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini, Naples, Italy

    Pierluigi Giampaolino

  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Salvatore Giovanni Vitale

  4. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Vizzielli

Authors
  1. Luigi Della Corte
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  2. Antonio Mercorio
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  3. Pierluigi Giampaolino
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  4. Salvatore Giovanni Vitale
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  5. Giuseppe Vizzielli
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  6. Giuseppe Bifulco
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  7. Giada Lavitola
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Correspondence to Luigi Della Corte.

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Dr. Della Corte, Dr. Mercorio, Dr. Giampaolino, Dr. Vitale, Dr. Vizzielli, Professor Bifulco and Dr. Lavitola, have no conflicts of interest or financial conflicts to disclose.

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Della Corte, L., Mercorio, A., Giampaolino, P. et al. The role of endocervicoscopy in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a systematic review of the literature. Updates Surg 74, 1239–1245 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-021-01193-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-021-01193-2

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