A proposed clinical classification of pelvic endometriosis

Two hundred and forty-four cases of pelvic endometriosis were diagnosed by laparoscopy between Jan. 1979 and Dec. 1986. Consulting the principles designated by the American Fertility Society (AFS) and Revised American Fertility Society (RAFS) classification, diseases were staged as mild, moderate and severe. The results of clinical classification were compared with those of laparoscopic classification. The conformance rate between clinical and RAFS classification was 74.2%. The pregnancy rates after operation were 69.2%, 42.9% and 38.5% among 94 patients clinically classified as mild, moderate and severe, respectively, as compared with 65.2%, 41.4% and 35.7% in terms of RAFS classification. The authors point out that laparoscopy is an excellent procedure for diagnosing and staging endometriosis. In hospitals where laparoscopic equipment is not available, clinical classification can be used as a substitute for staging those highly suspected of having endometriosis.