Staging of adnexal adhesions: a brief history

Arriving at a system for staging adnexal disease is a scientific, clinical and political process which has already begun. Gynecologic oncologists started this process in 1967, and are still arriving at refinements and adjustments in the staging of cancer after 22 years. To rigorously evaluate new medical and surgical technologies in the treatment of adhesions it is important for infertility surgeons to continue the process of working towards a classification system, keeping in mind that it will take a long time.