title: Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain in adolescent women.
abstract: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in adolescent women is a frequent complaint. We assessed the value of laparoscopy in the differential diagnosis of CPP in 47 adolescents 11-19 years old after six months or more of cyclic or acyclic pelvic pain. No pelvic abnormalities were detected in 19 patients (40.4%), endometriosis was detected in 18 (38.3%) (frequently with nonpigmented or "nonclassic" lesions), partially obstructive genital tract malformations were found in 4 (8.4%), and other types of pathology were discovered in 6 (12.8%). Nearly 60% of the patients had a treatable pelvic disease. Laparoscopy is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis of CPP in adolescents and should be performed before starting a psychiatric evaluation or prescribing long-term medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vercellini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arcaini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rognoni
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Candiani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D010388:Pelvis