Transfimbrial Salpingoscopy (SSC) and Laparoscopy (LSC): Correlation of Findings in Patients with Suspected Distal Tubal Disease (DTD).

Transfimbrial SSC is a minimally invasive means of assessing the distal tubal endothelial lining. SSC findings have not been compared with more traditional predictive LSC criteria for DTD. Twenty-four women with suspected DTD underwent concomitant LSC and SSC. Thirty-nine fallopian tubes were visualized by flexible or rigid endoscopes (1.8-2.2mm O.D.) introduced transfimbrially. Separate point scores were attributed to each fallopian tube based on both LSC and SSC findings. Correlation coefficients (R) for the two methods were derived based on least squares analysis. LSC criteria for assessing DTD correlated well with SSC findings only in patients with more severe DTD (N=16 tubes, R=0.79, P=.0003), but poorly in patients with lesser disease (N=23 tubes, R=0.13, P=0.57). SSC represents a valuable adjunct for assessing the distal tubal lumen, providing additional information which would not have otherwise been obtained.