title: Endometriosis: recurrence and retreatment.
abstract: Endometriosis, a condition in which endometrial tissue sheds and becomes attached to extrauterine sites, appears to be a progressive or recurrent disease. Although there are a variety of treatment options, the only cure for endometriosis is total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. For women who wish to preserve fertility, however, this is not a desirable choice. Because the symptoms of endometriosis suggest a hormonal relationship, pharmacologic management entails inducing anovulation. A concern of both physicians and patients is recurrence of endometriosis after initial response to therapy. Whether symptoms represent recurrent disease or progression of preexisting implants is still unknown. A repeat course of therapy with danazol, a synthetic androgen, may be tried for retreatment of endometriosis. Another option is the progestins. Conservative surgery (ie, laparoscopy) is also an option, but often must be repeated for pain control; combination pharmacologic/surgical therapy, although in widespread use, is not without disadvantages and requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: DeCherney
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003613:Danazol