Richard Hopley, M.D. | 04/01/2022Pain and bleeding are hallmarks of traditional cervical biopsies that can prevent patients from seeking routine follow-ups. As a result, clinicians face obstacles when diagnosing patients. The need for a less distressing biopsy is important to provide a more cumulative picture of the patient’s cervical health.
Recent fabric-based brushes have transformed the discomfort of the biopsy process while maintaining the quality of sampled tissue. The conventional biopsy tools consisting of sharp cutting instruments have been replaced with Velcro-like short hooks on fabric-based brushes.
The findings from a recent study(1) on this novel technique demonstrate a dramatic decrease in pain and bleeding, resulting in a more efficient procedure.
In fact, pain ratings went from 4/10 to 0/10 when comparing conventional to fabric-based brushes, respectively. Not only do patients rate their pain as lower, but bleeding rates reduced significantly as well. Additionally, fabric-based brushes protect patients from cross-contamination. Contrary to conventional brushes, fabric-based ones are single-use devices.
Nowadays, medical advancements are trending towards less invasive methods of diagnosis and treatment; biopsy techniques are staying up to speed. Traditional tools for cervical biopsies have been shown to be traumatic for the patient, however, these new brushes offer a significantly more comfortable process. Consequently, cervical health is more readily assessed, leading to more accurate and earlier disease detection.
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Bibliography
- Fabric-Based Exocervical and Endocervical Biopsy in Comparison with Punch Biopsy and Sharp Curettage. Winter M, Cestero RM, Burg A, Felix JC, Han C, Raffo AM, Vasilev S. 2012, Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, pp. 80-87.