[Clinic and therapy of extragenital endometriosis (author's transl)]

Patients with endometriosis are rare in surgical departments, they are however routine in gynecology. Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this disease are outlined. Treatment with estrogens, androgens or gestagens does not have the desired effect in many cases; in recent time however good results have been reported when Danazol, a new synthetic steroid was used. Surgery is indicated when the intestines are obstructed or when drug therapy has no effects. The extent of surgery depends upon the localization of endometriosis and upon the age of the patient. During the fertile period the uterus and ovaries should be left intact, whereas both should be removed after the age of forty. If parts of the intestine are removed, end-to-end anastomosis is the method of choice. Castration is to be preferred to a remaining anus praeter naturalis.