Laparoscopic Excision of Ovarian Endometriomas: Does Post-Operative Medical Treatment Prevent Recurrence?

Of 103 women undergoing laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometriomas, 41 patients were prescribed to 3 to 6 months therapy with GnRH analogs or danazol postoperatively and 62 received no additional treatment. No significant difference in extent of disease was present between the two groups at the time of surgery. Follow-up longer than 3 months, including a sonogram, was available for 40 patients of the treatment group and for 42 patients of the group receiving no additional treatment. Four recurrences (10%) at 3, 12, 16 and 21 months occurred in the treatment group, and 3 recurrences (7%) at 5, 6 and 6 months occurred in the no-treatment group (p=NS). Postoperative medical treatment does not prevent recurrence of laparoscopically excised ovarian endometriomas.