TY - JOUR
T1 - Computed tomography-based radiation therapy of ovarian remnants for symptomatic persistent endometriosis
AU - Haglund, Karl E.
AU - Viswanathan, Akila N.
PY - 2008/2
Y1 - 2008/2
N2 - BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, a major cause of pelvic pain in women, is driven by estrogen. Ovarian remnant irradiation may alleviate pelvic pain by eliminating estrogen production in appropriately selected women with endometriosis. CASE: Three patients with endometriosis causing incapacitating pelvic pain received 3D-imaging-based external beam radiation to doses of 1,500 to 2,100 cGy. All had pre-irradiation premenopausal follicle stimulating hormone levels and imaging evidence of ovarian remnants. None were candidates for further medical or surgical interventions. By 3 months after radiation, follicle stimulating hormone levels reached postmenopausal levels in all three patients, with complete resolution of the severe pelvic pain. CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy effectively induced menopause and relieved refractory pain from endometriosis. Careful selection of patients is necessary, given the potential for an increased long-term risk of radiation-related complications.
AB - BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, a major cause of pelvic pain in women, is driven by estrogen. Ovarian remnant irradiation may alleviate pelvic pain by eliminating estrogen production in appropriately selected women with endometriosis. CASE: Three patients with endometriosis causing incapacitating pelvic pain received 3D-imaging-based external beam radiation to doses of 1,500 to 2,100 cGy. All had pre-irradiation premenopausal follicle stimulating hormone levels and imaging evidence of ovarian remnants. None were candidates for further medical or surgical interventions. By 3 months after radiation, follicle stimulating hormone levels reached postmenopausal levels in all three patients, with complete resolution of the severe pelvic pain. CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy effectively induced menopause and relieved refractory pain from endometriosis. Careful selection of patients is necessary, given the potential for an increased long-term risk of radiation-related complications.
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U2 - 10.1097/01.AOG.0000299877.71874.91
DO - 10.1097/01.AOG.0000299877.71874.91
M3 - Article
C2 - 18239029
AN - SCOPUS:38549095542
SN - 0029-7844
VL - 111
SP - 579
EP - 583
JO - Obstetrics and gynecology
JF - Obstetrics and gynecology
IS - 2 PART 2
ER -