1. Prevalence of occult microscopic endometriosis in clinically negative peritoneum during laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain.
- Author
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Gubbels, Ashley L., Li, Rui, Kreher, Donna, Mehandru, Natasha, Castellanos, Mario, Desai, Nita A., and Hibner, Michael
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ENDOMETRIOSIS , *CHRONIC pain , *PELVIC pain , *PERITONEUM , *SYMPTOMS , *MENSTRUAL cycle - Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of occult microscopic endometriosis in patients with chronic pelvic pain and negative laparoscopy.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study included women who underwent laparoscopic evaluation for chronic pelvic pain by three fellowship-trained gynecologic surgeons at a community hospital from January 2011 to December 2016. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of microscopic endometriosis in this population.Results: In 142 patients with clinically negative peritoneum on laparoscopy, 39% had occult microscopic endometriosis. Cramping pain score during menses was found to be lower in the positive biopsy group (6.9 vs 8.0, P=0.046). No differences were appreciated in age of menarche, pain during various parts of the menstrual cycle, or duration of symptoms. The biopsy-positive group had a younger age at time of evaluation, although not statistically significant (P=0.179). Current use of hormones affected neither biopsy results nor menstrual or pain characteristics. Detection was similar between robotic and laparoscopic cases and operative morbidity was minimal.Conclusion: Occult microscopic endometriosis may be present in approximately 39% of patients with clinically negative appearing peritoneum undergoing laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain. Given this, biopsies should be performed in patients undergoing laparoscopy who do not have visible lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
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