title: Rectovaginal septum adenomyotic nodules: a series of 500 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laparoscopic procedure with excision of deep fibrotic endometriotic nodules of the rectovaginal septum and histological study of the lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  An academic teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 500 women undergoing laparoscopy for pelvic pain or infertility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopic (n = 497) and laparotomic (n = 3) excision of endometriotic nodules resulted in considerable pain relief. Histologically the rectovaginal nodule was similar to an adenomyoma as it was a circumscribed nodular aggregate of smooth muscle and endometrial glands and stroma. The variations in oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor content suggested a regulatory mechanism different from that of eutopic endometrium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This form of disease should be considered as an entity distinct from peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis, and originating from the Müllerian rests present in the rectovaginal septum.
authors.affiliation: Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nisolle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gillerot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smets
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassil
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casanas-Roux
mesh_terms: D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone