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Subtle appearance of pelvic endometriosis
M C Stripling1, D C Martin, D L Chatman
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
Fertility and Sterility
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Increased awareness led to better documentation of subtle endometriosis lesions, improving surgical diagnosis. Histologic confirmation reinforced the ability to detect these varied appearances.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Endometriosis diagnosis can be challenging due to varied lesion appearances.
- Subtle endometriosis lesions may be overlooked during surgical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess trends in the documentation of subtle endometriosis lesions.
- To evaluate the impact of increased awareness and histologic confirmation on lesion detection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 109 patients' surgical records.
- Analysis of lesion documentation (color, appearance) and excision for histology.
- Comparison of subtle lesion documentation rates over the study period.
Main Results:
- Endometriosis was documented in 97% of patients, including pink, clear, red, white, and puckered black lesions.
- Subtle lesion documentation increased significantly over time (32% to 72%) during laparoscopy.
- Increased documentation correlated with enhanced awareness and histologic confirmation.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced awareness and anticipation improve the detection of subtle endometriosis.
- Histologic confirmation is crucial for validating the diagnosis of subtle lesions.
- Experience and focused attention increase the ability to identify diverse endometriosis presentations.