Using location, color, size, and depth to characterize and identify endometriosis lesions in a cohort of 133 women

Barbara J. Stegmann, Ninet Sinaii, Shannon Liu, James Segars, Maria Merino, Lynnette K. Nieman, Pamela Stratton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To correlate histology with endometriosis characteristics. Design: Secondary data analysis. Setting: Government research hospital. Patient(s): One hundred thirty-three women with chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis who underwent laparoscopic surgery between 1999 and 2004. Intervention(s): Laparoscopic excision of lesions, including recording of lesion characteristics and surgical impression of the lesions. Main Outcome Measure(s): All biopsies were sent for histological examination for endometriosis, and surgical and histological findings were compared. Result(s): Three hundred fifty-seven of 544 lesions believed to be endometriosis by the surgeon had positive histology. Mixed-color lesions most commonly contained endometriosis (76%), with the percentage of positive lesions being similar between single-color groups. Among subtle (red or white) lesions, 58% (164/283) were positive for endometriosis. Thirty women had only red or white lesions, and 18 (60%) had at least one lesion positive for endometriosis. Lesions were most commonly located in the cul-de-sac (64%), utero-sacral ligaments (68%), and ovarian fossa (70%). Conclusion(s): Wide, deep, mixed-color lesions in the cul-de-sac, the ovarian fossa, or the utero-sacral ligaments had the highest frequency of endometriosis. More than half of subtle lesions had endometriosis. These results should be considered when diagnosing endometriosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1632-1636
Number of pages5
JournalFertility and sterility
Volume89
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Endometriosis
  • laparoscopy
  • lesion characteristics
  • lesion color
  • prediction of endometriosis
  • surgical diagnosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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