Endometriosis in adolescents. Incidence, diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To review the incidence and diagnosis of endometriosis in adolescents and to evaluate the surgical and medical treatment options for this special population. STUDY DESIGN: Literature research. RESULTS: Endometriosis is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain in adolescents, affecting up to 70% of girls with chronic pelvic pain unresponsive to medical management. There may be a natural progression of endometriosis from atypical lesions in adolescents to classic lesions in adults. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis should be strongly suspected in adolescent girls with chronic pelvic pain unresponsive to oral contraceptives and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Initial management of endometriosis involves surgical resection or destruction at the time of diagnosis followed by medical management with continuous oral contraceptives. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists should be considered for adolescents over 16 years of age who have completed pubertal maturation.     

Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and mental health: pelvic pain makes the difference

Abstract

Introduction: No prior study of endometriosis has investigated the psychological impact of having asymptomatic endometriosis versus endometriosis with pelvic pain in a systematic way. This study aimed at examining the impact of endometriosis on quality of life, anxiety and depression by comparing asymptomatic endometriosis, endometriosis with pelvic pain, and healthy, pain-free controls. The psychological impact of different types of endometriosis pain was also tested.

Methods: One hundred and ten patients with surgically diagnosed endometriosis (78 with pelvic pain and 32 without pain symptoms) and 61 healthy controls completed two psychometric tests assessing quality of life, anxiety and depression. Endometriosis participants indicated on a numerical rating scale the intensity of four types of pain (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, non-menstrual pelvic pain and dyschezia).

Results: Endometriosis patients with pelvic pain had poorer quality of life and mental health as compared with those with asymptomatic endometriosis and the healthy controls. No significant differences were found between asymptomatic endometriosis and the control group. Dysmenorrhea had significant effects only on physical quality of life; non-menstrual pelvic pain affected all the variables; no significant effects were found for dyspareunia and dyschezia.

Conclusions: Pain significantly affects women’s experience of endometriosis. The medical treatment of endometriosis with pain may not be sufficient and psychological intervention is recommended.     

Quality of sex life in women with endometriosis and deep dyspareunia

OBJECTIVE: To characterize sexual function among women with endometriosis and deep dyspareunia (DD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Three-hundred nine women undergoing surgery because of infertility, pelvic pain, or adnexal masses. Three groups of patients with DD were created: women with deep infiltrating endometriosis of the uterosacral ligament (group U), women with endometriosis without uterosacral ligament lesions (group E), and controls (group C). INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sexual function questionnaire. RESULT(S): The prevalence of DD since the first intercourse was significantly higher among women with endometriosis than in controls (P=.029). When group U was compared with group E and C, the pain score was higher, the number of intercourses per week was reduced, the orgasm was less satisfying, and the patients felt less relaxed and fulfilled after sex. No significant difference was observed in pain score and coital frequency between subjects with monolateral and bilateral lesions of the uterosacral ligament. CONCLUSION(S): Among subjects with DD, those with deep infiltrating endometriosis of the uterosacral ligament have the most severe impairment of sexual function; the presence of bilateral lesions does not influence the severity of the symptoms. Women with endometriosis have frequently suffered DD during their entire sex lives.     

Does Response to Hormonal Therapy Predict Presence or Absence of Endometriosis?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether relief of chronic pelvic pain symptoms with hormonal treatment is predictive of presence or absence of endometriosis or location of endometriosis within the pelvis. DESIGN: A retrospective, chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: A private practice endometriosis referral center. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing laparoscopy for pelvic pain with at least 3 months of previous hormonal treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Response to hormonal treatment was ascertained by patient report in medical records. Presence and location of endometriosis was recorded based on operative findings and pathology reports. In all, 486 patients with chronic pelvic pain were identified, of whom 104 met our inclusion criteria. Endometriosis was diagnosed at laparoscopy in 88 (85%) patients. Endometriosis was identified at laparoscopy in 46 (81%) of 57 patients who failed to respond to hormonal therapy compared with 41 (87%) of 47 patients who previously responded to hormonal therapy (p = .37). Using final pathology as basis of diagnosis, 31 (67%) of 46 responders, and 39 (68%) of 57 nonresponders had endometriosis (p = .91). When data were analyzed by anatomic site of endometriosis, no significant difference was noted in response to preoperative hormonal therapy. CONCLUSION: Relief of chronic pelvic pain symptoms, or lack of response, with preoperative hormonal therapy is not an accurate predictor of presence or absence of histologically confirmed endometriosis at laparoscopy. Patients with chronic pelvic pain may benefit from laparoscopy and no judgment regarding diagnosis should be made without this evaluation.     

Laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis in teenagers

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency and severity of endometriosis in adolescent and teenager girls with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) who fail to respond to medical treatment and to evaluate the outcome of radical laparoscopic surgery for severe endometriosis. DESIGN: Retrospective review of case records of all girls under the age of 21 years who underwent diagnostic and/or operative laparoscopy for CPP unresponsive to medical treatment between January 2001 and December 2003. The operative findings and the response to surgery were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-one girls were referred. No pelvic abnormalities were detected in 11 patients (35.5%). Endometriosis was detected in 11 (35.5%). Six had severe endometriosis. Other diagnoses included: non-functional non-endometriotic ovarian cyst (4 patients), functional ovarian cyst (1 patient), hydrosalpinx (bilateral, 1 patient; unilateral, 1 patient) and obstructed uterine horn (2 patients). Of those with severe disease all six were treated laparoscopically without complications. Five were rendered pain free and one had an improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Endometriosis can occur in adolescent and teenager girls. Laparoscopy should be carried out in all adolescents and teenagers with CPP unresponsive to medical treatment. This the first study reporting the outcome of radical excision treatment for severe endometriosis in this age group and early results are encouraging.     

Adenomyosis a variant, not a disease? Evidence from hysterectomized menopausal women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

OBJECTIVE: Our study evaluates the symptoms commonly attributed to adenomyosis in women undergoing the menopausal transition. We hypothesized that adenomyosis is more commonly seen in women with fibroids, pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and in the presence of endometriosis. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Multisite community-based study. PATIENT(S): Enrollees in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation who had hysterectomies. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Relationship of adenomyosis to presenting symptoms and other patient characteristics. RESULT(S): Adenomyosis was found in 48% of 137 patients. Frequencies of presenting symptoms were similar in those with and without evidence of adenomyosis. The same prevalence of fibroids was seen in the presence or absence of adenomyosis: 37% versus 43%, endometriosis, 3% versus 5%, abnormal bleeding, 27% versus 33%, or chronic pelvic pain in the presence of fibroids 12% versus 17%. CONCLUSION(S): Adenomyosis is a common diagnosis seen in hysterectomized specimens from women undergoing the perimenopausal transition. Adenomyosis is equally common in women who also have fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic pain, or abnormal uterine bleeding, and women who do not. Therefore, adenomyosis is an incidental finding, not the source of the symptomatology. It appears not to be a "disease" per se but rather a normal variant.     

Endometriosis in pediatric and adolescent gynecology

Endometriosis is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain in adolescent girls (50-70%), unresponsive to treatment of oral contraceptives and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The most common symptoms of the disease are: acquired or progressive dysmenorrhea, acyclic and cyclic pain, dyspareunia (in sexually active girls), urological symptoms and gastrointestinal complaints. When evaluating an adolescent with suspected endometriosis, a gynecological examination (rectal or vaginal examination) and imaging studies (ultrasonography, magnetic resonance) should be performed. Moreover, in diagnostic process laparoscopy should be carried out in all girls and teenagers with chronic pelvic pain unresponsive to medical treatment. Initial therapy of endometriosis in adolescent girls involves: surgical methods (laparoscopy/laparotomy), hormonal pharmacotherapy (combined contraceptives, progestin-only protocols), GnRH agonists (adolescents over 16 years of age), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alternative pain therapies and psychotherapy. Early diagnosis and treatment during adolescence may decrease disease progression and prevent subsequent infertility.     

青少年子宫内膜异位症六例临床分析

目的：探讨青少年子宫内膜异位症（内异症）患病的临床症状,诊断及治疗,方法：回顾分析6例青少年内异位患者的临床资料。结果：6例青少年内异症患者占同期妇科青少年住院患者的1．8％（6／339）,6例患者均有严重慢性腹痛,其中4例合并生殖道畸形,6例患者手术前全部误诊,均经手术剔除异位内膜囊肿并行生殖道矫形术,除1例患者多次复发,其余患者预后良好,结论：内异症是引起青少年慢性腹痛的常见原因,在青少年中表现可以不典型,生殖道畸形是引起青少年内异症的主要原因,对于有慢性下腹痛的青少年患者应警惕内异症的发生,治疗应是腹腔镜及药物治疗并用。     

Surgical Management of Superficial Peritoneal Adolescent Endometriosis

BackgroundAdolescent endometriosis typically presents as stage I with superficial peritoneal disease and less commonly as stage III or IV with deeply infiltrative disease. Endometriosis lesions can be destroyed (cautery or laser), cutting out the discrete lesion with excision and destroyed, or radically excised with removal of the lesion and surrounding tissue. It has been shown to be beneficial to excise deeply infiltrative disease to improve pain. Radical excision has been promoted by a subset of surgeons and involves removal of large areas of peritoneum with the promise/proposal of a cure and suggestion of no need for medical suppression of endometriosis. The best technique to manage superficial peritoneal disease has not yet been defined.CaseA 15-year-old young woman with a history of 2 previous laparoscopies for pain and an ovarian cyst who underwent removal of a mucinous cystadenoma, presented to a local gynecologist with chronic pelvic pain. She underwent a third laparoscopy and was found to have superficial peritoneal endometriosis and filmy adhesions believed to be due to the previous ovarian surgery. The endometriosis was surgically destroyed with the use of cautery and the filmy adhesions were lysed. Months later she had a return of pain and was advised to have a fourth laparoscopy with radical excision by an “excisionalist” gynecologist. She was found to have superficial peritoneal disease with ASRM-defined stage I endometriosis and underwent radical excision of the peritoneum of the anterior cul de sac, posterior cul de sac, and both pelvic side walls. She was informed that she had been cured of her endometriosis and was thus not treated with postoperative hormonal suppression. Her pain did not improve and in fact worsened after the radical excisional surgery. She self-referred for care. She started menstrual suppression treatment with continuous estrogen/progestin therapy for medical treatment of endometriosis but after 6 months she was still having severe pain without bleeding. Eight months after the radical excisional surgery she elected to have a fifth laparoscopy to address potential adhesions. At that time she was found to have extensive pelvic adhesions with the uterus adherent to the anterior cul de sac, and adhesions in the posterior cul de sac. In addition, both ovaries were involved with adhesions and adherent to the pelvic side walls. She was found to have clear and red lesions of superficial peritoneal endometriosis. She underwent a lysis of adhesions, and excision of lesions, and destruction of endometriosis. Her pain improved postoperatively; menstrual suppression was continued and she has remained with a continued excellent quality of life with over 2 years of follow-up.Summary and ConclusionFor this patient, radical excisional surgery resulted in increased pain and extensive adhesion formation. It was not curative because endometriosis was documented on follow-up surgery. In a previously published long-term follow-up report of adolescents with recurrent pain 2-10 years after destruction of superficial peritoneal disease, it was reported that there were no increased adhesions and no trend toward disease progression. Excisional gynecologists who perform this procedure should not suggest that radical excisional surgery is helpful and without increased risk, until studies have shown long-term benefit in the surgical management of superficial peritoneal endometriosis.     

Location,color, size,depth, and volume may predict endometriosis in lesions resected at surgery

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the diagnosis of endometriosis in lesions excised at laparoscopy with pathologic diagnosis. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: U.S. government research hospital. PATIENT(S): Women with chronic pelvic pain thought to be due to endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Excision of lesions suspicious for endometriosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Histologic examination of lesions for color, width, depth, and location of endometriosis. Lesion colors were grouped as black, red, white, mixed color, or endometriomas. RESULT(S): Sixty-five women with a surgical diagnosis of endometriosis had minimal (n = 22), mild (n = 25), moderate (n = 9), or severe disease (n = 9) according to the revised American Fertility Society classification. Endometriosis was confirmed in all but seven patients with minimal and one with severe disease. Twelve other patients did not have endometriosis. Of 314 lesions excised, 189 (61%) were endometriotic. Black or red lesions were less often histologically confirmed to be endometriosis than were white lesions, mixed-color lesions or endometriomas. Lesions > 5 mm wide or deep were more likely to be endometriosis than were narrower or shallower implants. Endometriomas deeper than 1 cm were histologically confirmed to be endometriosis, and 50% of peritoneal windows contained endometriosis. CONCLUSION(S): White lesions, mixed-color lesions, endometriomas, and larger lesions by depth or width were more likely to be histologically confirmed endometriosis than were smaller, black, or red lesions.     

Endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy in adolescent girls

105 adolescent girls with mean age of 17.3 (11 – 19) years had laparoscopy/pelviscopy between 1996 and 1997. In 37 cases, endometriosis was diagnosed (35.2%). The majority of the girls (32.4%) presented with endoscopic endometriosis classification (EEC) stage I. 2.8% of the girls had stage EEC II. The lesions involved one site or pelvic organ (64.8%) with a mean age of 18.7 (14 – 19) years. In 35.2% of cases, the lesions were at multiple sites with a mean age of 16.9 (11 – 19) years. Indications for laparoscopy included chronic or acute pelvic pain and right-sided lower abdominal pain. Endometriotic lesions were found in the pouch of Douglas (64.8%), uterosacral ligaments (37.8%), and ovarian fossa (24.3%). 42.8% of directed biopsies were positive. Endocoagulation of the endometriotic lesions was performed in 91.9% of cases. Accepted: 30 September 1997     

Laparoscopic findings, management, histopathology, and outcome of 25 women with cyclic leg pain

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine pelvic findings, histopathology, and clinical outcome in women with chronic pelvic pain and cyclic sciatica-like pain after laparoscopic surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Of 2115 women with chronic pelvic pain, 25 also complained of cyclic pain radiating to the leg (right 15, left 9, both 1), pain over buttocks, and paresthesia of the thighs and/or knees, exacerbated during menses. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Laparoscopic findings were endometriosis nodules (5 patients), peritoneal pockets and/or peritoneal endometriosis (19), and inflammatory peritoneum (1). Associated pelvic endometriosis was identified and confirmed in 17 women (68%). No additional lesions other than peritoneal pockets were found in eight (32%). All nodules, peritoneal pockets, and abnormal peritoneum were excised with a combination of hydrodissection and carbon dioxide laser. Peritoneum over resultant deep defects was sutured with one to three 2-0 nonabsorbable sutures in accordance with the surgeon's practice and experience. Endometriosis was confirmed in all five nodules, and histology of excised pockets showed endometriosis in nine (60.0%), endosalpingiosis in two (13.3%), chronic inflammation in one (6.7%), and normal tissue in three (20.0%). After laparoscopic excision sciatic symptoms were eliminated in 19, markedly improved in 4, remained the same in 2, and recurred in 3 patients after 2 years. CONCLUSION: Cyclic leg signs and symptoms were associated with pelvic peritoneal pockets, endometriosis nodules, or surface endometriosis of the posterolateral pelvic peritoneum. We hypothesize that the pain associated with these lesions is more likely referred pain originating from pelvic peritoneum than direct irritation of the lumbosacral plexus of the sciatic nerve.     

深部浸润型子宫内膜异位症的药物治疗

摘要:深部浸润型子宫内膜异位症 (DIE)是指病灶浸润深度≥5mm,可导致痛经、慢性盆腔痛及性交痛等症状。手术是主要的治疗方法,但手术治疗并发症发生率高。药物治疗是重要的辅助治疗措施,可以缓解患者的疼痛症状。术后药物治疗可以延长复发时间。     

Plasma urocortin-1 as a preoperative marker of endometriosis in symptomatic women

Accurate noninvasive diagnostic tests for endometriosis are still missing. This study evaluated the predictive value of the neuropeptide urocortin 1 (Ucn1) to detect pelvic endometriosis in symptomatic women. We enrolled prospectively 97 consecutive women submitted to gynecologic laparoscopy for chronic or acute pelvic pain, infertility or adnexal mass. Preoperative blood samples were assayed for Ucn1 using enzyme immunoassay. Patients with endometriosis had higher plasma Ucn1 levels compared to patients with no lesions (median 59 vs. 34?pg/ml, p?p??46?pg/mL as the best cutoff point to detect endometriosis vs. no lesions, with 76% sensitivity and 88% specificity (area under the curve [AUC] 0.827, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.695???0.959), but no cutoff could accurately distinguish endometriosis from other pathological conditions (AUC 0.593 [95% CI 0.474???0.711]). In women with chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or both symptoms, the probability of endometriosis (positive predictive value) increased consistently with the increase of plasma Ucn1 levels. The present findings suggest that high plasma Ucn1 levels increase the likelihood of endometriosis in symptomatic women.     

Characteristics of adolescent endometriosis: apropos of a series of 40 cases

The particularities of endometriosis were analyzed based upon a series of 40 cases of adolescents aged 11 to 19 years. It was possible to distinguish two entities: 1) endometriosis associated with an obstructive genital anomaly sometimes found in young patients, for which the severity depends upon the delay in establish the diagnosis; these lesions may regress spontaneously, sometimes completely, when the anomaly has been surgically treated; and 2) endometriosis of adolescents aged 17 years or older, noted mainly in the case of chronic pelvic pain or severe dysmenorrhea. Lesions are usually mild and are frequently atypical; they are potentially recurrent, but the possible consequences on subsequent fertility need to be studied further.     

Patient satisfaction and changes in pain scores after ablative laparoscopic surgery for stage III-IV endometriosis and endometriotic cysts

OBJECTIVE: To document the changes in pain scores 3-12 months following ablative laparoscopic surgery. Secondary outcome measures included patient satisfaction scores. DESIGN: A prospective, cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary referral center for the treatment of endometriosis. PATIENT(S): Seventy-three consecutive women with stage III-IV endometriosis and an endometrioma >2 cm. INTERVENTION(S): A laparoscopy was performed. The extraovarian endometriosis was ablated with a CO(2) laser, and the endometrioma capsule was fenestrated then ablated with the potassium-titanic-phosphate (KTP) laser or the Bicap bipolar diathermy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pre- and postoperative visual analogue scores for pelvic pain were completed. Patient satisfaction was scored from 1 to 10, with a score of 10 being "most satisfied." RESULT(S): A total of 73 women with stage III-IV endometriosis and 96 cysts (23 cysts were bilateral). The mean revised American Fertility Society (AFS) score was 65.5 (range 22-128). At 12 months, the mean temporal decrease in the pain score for dyspareunia was 2.14 +/- 0.41; for dysmenorrhea, 1.52 +/- 0.38; and for chronic nonmenstrual pain, 2.37 +/- 0.43. Sixty-four (87.7%) patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment. No surgical complications occurred. CONCLUSION(S): Laparoscopic ablative surgery for endometriomas in the presence of stage III-IV endometriosis is an effective treatment for relieving pelvic pain.     

Depression in women with endometriosis with and without chronic pelvic pain

AIM: The aim of the study is to compare the prevalence of depression in women surgically diagnosed with endometriosis according to the presence or absence of pelvic pain. METHODS: This cross-sectional prospective study evaluated 100 women receiving care at the Outpatients' Clinic for Endometriosis, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil, equally divided into two groups: one suffering from chronic pelvic pain and the other pain-free. The Beck Depression Inventory was used in order to measure depression. RESULTS: Depression was detected in 86 and 38% of the women with and without chronic pelvic pain, respectively. Complaints of depression, such as somatic concerns, work inhibition, dissatisfaction, and sadness, were observed at a significantly higher rate in the group with pain. A sensation of failure was the only variable observed more frequently in the pain-free group. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is highly prevalent in women with endometriosis, especially those with pelvic pain. Careful evaluation can identify women with depression who may benefit from treatment.     

Endometriosis in Hungary

Endometriosis is a growing healthcare problem all around the world. I discuss in this article how the hungarian healthcare system is working and helping patients suffering from endometriosis. I discuss all diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities which are available for the patients. I discuss also some data from my own practice, 181 patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain caused by endometriosis.     

Product Review

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the accuracy of transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy is comparable to that of standard laparoscopy for the diagnosis of infertility. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative study. SETTING: General hospital in Belgium. PATIENT(S): Ten infertile patients without obvious pelvic pathology. INTERVENTION(S): Two gynecologists independently performed transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy and standard laparoscopy and reported the observations in a confidential manner to a third person. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Endometriosis, adhesions, and other pelvic pathology related to infertility. RESULT(S): Minimal or mild endometriosis was diagnosed in seven patients and sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease in one patient at both procedures. The interobserver agreement for tuboovarian adhesions was 95% at transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy and 74% at standard laparoscopy. Ovarian adhesions were detected in 63% at transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy and in 37% at standard laparoscopy. CONCLUSION(S): Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy is comparable in accuracy to standard laparoscopy for the diagnosis of adhesions and endometriosis in infertile patients without obvious pathology.