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Biopsies of the decidua parietalis were performed at different times after intra-amniotic instillation of hypertonic saline (10 per cent NaCl). Decidual changes were noted as soon as two hours after instillation and they gradually increased in intensity and extension as time elapsed. The decidual changes preceded uterine activity and the decrease of plasma progesterone. Since decidual cells contain prostaglandins (PG) it is suggested that a PG release from damaged decidual cells could induce abortion. However, the early appearance of decidual lesions and the late onset of labor remained to be explained. Other factors such as the fall of progesterone could influence the onset of labor. Decidual lesions may be of importance in spontaneous abortion, in premature labor, and labor at term.

An office procedure of intrauterine aspiration yielded a 99% diagnostic accuracy in 100 patients admitted for either curettage or hysterectomy. After correlation with surgical diagnosis, no false-positive or false-negative results were found. The method provides tissue for cell blocks adequate for histologic diagnosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma and its precursors. The major advantage of this technic in comparison with the Gravlee Jet Washer is its low cost. Moreover, in this study, it proved to be less painful, superior for cell block preparation, and yielded more satisfactory specimens. As a screening procedure for asymptomatic patients at risk, this intrauterine aspiration technic holds promise and must be evaluated by further studies.

A modified intrauterine aspiration technic for detection of endometrial adenocarcinoma and its precursors has been described. This method which is simple, inexpensive and requires neither anaesthesia nor analgesia, allows cyto-histologic diagnoses of endometrial lesions. A correct cytologic or cyto-histologic diagnosis was made in 93.9% of the 277 cases examined. Of the premalignant and malignant endometrial lesions, the diagnostic accuracy was 100%.