Is rectovaginal endometriosis a progressive disease? - 25/08/11
, Stefano Bianchi, MD b, Giovanni Zanconato, MD c, Ricciarda Raffaelli, MD c, Nicola Berlanda, MD a
Reprint requests: Luigi Fedele, MD, Clinica Ostetrico-Ginecologica dell'Università di Milano, Ospedale “San Paolo,” Via Di Rudinì n. 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.Abstract |
Objective |
The purpose of this study was to observe the natural history of untreated asymptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis.
Study design |
This was a prospective, observational study. Eighty-eight patients with untreated asymptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis were followed for 1 to 9 years. Pain symptoms and clinical and transrectal ultrasonographic findings were evaluated before and every 6 months after diagnosis.
Results |
Two patients had specific symptoms that were attributable to rectovaginal endometriosis that was associated with an increase in lesion size and underwent surgery. In 4 other patients, the size of the endometriotic lesions increased, but the patients remained symptom free. The estimated cumulative proportion of patients with progression of disease and/or appearance of pain symptoms that were attributable to rectovaginal endometriosis after 6 years of follow up was 9.7%. For the remaining patients, the follow-up period was uneventful, with no detectable clinical nor echographic changes of the lesions and with no appearance of new symptoms.
Conclusion |
Progression of the disease and appearance of specific symptoms rarely occurred in patients with asymptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : Rectovaginal endometriosis, Transrectal ultrasonography, Pelvic pain
Plan
Vol 191 - N° 5
P. 1539-1542 - novembre 2004 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- Risk factors for prolapse recurrence after vaginal repair
- James L. Whiteside, Anne M. Weber, Leslie A. Meyn, Mark D. Walters
- Gender selection: Pressure from patients and industry should not alter our adherence to ethical guidelines
- Mark V. Sauer
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