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Nerve fibers and histopathology of endometriosis-harboring peritoneum
T Tulandi1, A Felemban, M F Chen
1McGill Reproductive Center, 687 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A1, Canada.
Study Objective:
To evaluate the presence of nerve fibers and histopathology of normal peritoneum and endometriosis-harboring peritoneum.
Design:
Prospective, nonrandomized study (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).
Setting:
University hospital.
Materials:
Peritoneal specimen from 40 women with laparoscopic findings of endometriosis (24 confirmed histopathologically, group H, 16 diagnosed by laparoscopy, group L) and from 9 women with no endometriosis (controls).
Intervention:
Histopathologic examination of peritoneal specimens with nerve fibers identified by immunocytochemistry staining with an antibody to neurofilament.
Measurements And Main Results:
No differences in mean nerve score were seen among the three groups. Degrees of lymphocytic infiltration and mesothelial hyperplasia were higher in group H than in the other two groups (p <0.01 and <0.05, respectively). The degree of lymphocytic infiltration was significantly higher in group L than in the control group (p <0.05). There were no differences in all measurements between women in group H who experienced chronic pelvic pain and those who did not.
Conclusion:
The presence of nerve fibers in peritoneum is not related to endometriosis. Endometriosis-harboring peritoneum contains more lymphocytic infiltration than normal peritoneum. (J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 8(1):95-98, 2001)