title: Phantom endometriosis of the sciatic nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and diagnostic value of GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) therapy in cases of hidden sciatic nerve endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary referral center for endometriosis treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients with cyclic, catamenial sciatica associated with pelvic endometriosis who had electromyographic evidence of sciatic nerve damage but negative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monthly administration of the GnRH-a leuprolide acetate plus daily transdermal E2 (25 microg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Relief of pain symptoms and improvement in motor function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three patients had clear decreases in pain and partial amelioration of claudication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endometriosis of the sciatic nerve may be hard to diagnose with the use of current imaging techniques but may be proved by clinical response to GnRH analogue treatment and may be more frequent than previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raffaelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanconato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanette
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004576:Electromyography; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010166:Palliative Care; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D016729:Leuprolide