Histologic study of peritoneal endometriosis in infertile women

Fertil Steril. 1990 Jun;53(6):984-8. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)53571-7.

Abstract

The present study included 118 patients undergoing a laparoscopy for infertility. In 86 patients with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis (group I), biopsies were taken from areas of apparent endometriosis (n = 86) and from a visually normal peritoneum (n = 52). Histology reveals the presence of endometriosis in 93% of positive sites and in 13% of negative sites. In 32 patients without endometriosis at laparoscopy (group II), biopsies were taken from normal uterosacral ligaments (n = 32). Endometriosis was observed in 6% of cases. Despite the increased ability to detect pigmented and nonpigmented endometriotic lesion, histological study revealed the presence of endometriosis in normal peritoneum in 13% (group I) and 6% (group II) of cases.

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Endometriosis / diagnosis
  • Endometriosis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / etiology
  • Infertility, Female / pathology*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / pathology*