Controlled Fine Needle Biopsy of the Uterine Cervix During Pregnancy

Objective: Cervical sampling could furnish tissue-based information regarding premature cervical ripening and effacement. This report assesses the effect of cervical fine needle biopsy (FNB) in the evaluation of cervical shortening. Methods: Retrospective cohort study evaluating adverse events during the first week following FNB in women with short cervix. Patients with a cervical length(CL) <= 25 mm had a cervical FNB between 16 and 24 weeks. The risk of FNB was compared to a control group that was similarly evaluated but did not undergo FNB. Results: One hundred and thirty-two FNBs were performed in 94 participants. The mean gestational age and CL at enrollment were 20.4 +/- 2.3 weeks and 15.7 +/- 0.6 mm. Within 7 days of FNB, there were 3 adverse events (2.3%) in the study group compared to 5 in the control group (2.1%). Conclusions: FNB of the cervix in high risk gravidae is feasible in clinical situations. It did not increase the risk of adverse events compared to women studied under a similar protocol without FNB.