Recurrence rate of ovarian endometriosis in patients treated with laparoscopic surgery and postoperative suppressive...

The testing represented a prospective study that was performed at the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinic "Narodni Front" in Belgrade during a two-year period. The study encompassed female patients with ovarian endometrioma operated with laparoscopic surgery. The research objective was to determine the percentage of occurrence of relapses in patients operated for endometriosis of the ovary in relation to the stage of the disease and the type of performed operation, and which were receiving suppressive therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues after the surgery compared to those who were not receiving suppressive therapy after the operation.

The recurrence of endometriosis on the ovary of the test and control groups was monitored during the first year after surgery. In all patients ultrasound checks were done every month during the first six months after surgery, and then every three months for the next six months. In all patients in whom the recurrence, i.e. endometrioma on the ovary larger than three cm was revealed postoperatively by ultrasound, the laparoscopic removal of the endometrioma was performed again as well as the histopathological examination of the material.

There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of recurrence of endometriosis between the groups formed according to the type of surgical technique (cystectomy or cystotomy). The recurrence of endometriosis occurred later in the group of patients in which the treatment GnRH analogues was applied after the surgical treatment. The recurrence of endometriosis in more severe stages (Stage III and IV) occurs later in the group of patients in which the treatment GnRH analogues is applied after the surgical treatment.