Incidential Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome at laparoscopy for benign gynecologic conditions

To assess the prevalence of incidental Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome in women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy for sterilization, infertility or chronic pelvic pain.

This was a prospective study over a 4-year period in which a total of 320 women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy for sterilization [Group I, 200 women (62.5%)], infertility [Group II, 60 women (18.7%)], or chronic pelvic pain [Group III, 60 women (18.7%)] were enrolled. After examination of the pelvic area and abdominal cavity, the liver area was visualized in all cases for evidence of perihepatitis and adhesions between liver and anterior abdominal wall or diaphragm (Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome). Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, with a P-value set at 0.05 for significance.

The mean age was similar in the three groups, while mean parity was obviously less in the infertility group. Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome was observed in 16 women (8%) in Group I, 10 women (16.6%) in Group II, and 18 women (30%) in Group III. The prevalence was highest in Group III and the difference was statistically highly significant in Group III vs. Group I (P<0.001), and in Group III vs. Group II (P<0.01). It was higher in the infertility group than in the sterilization group (P<0.05 in Group II vs. Group I).

There was a very high prevalence of incidental Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome in the chronic pelvic pain and infertility groups, and even in the sterilization group.