Endosalpingiosis in laparoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the laparoscopic frequency of endosalpingiosis versus other causes of peritoneal proliferation.


METHODS
Clinic-based, prospective, nonrandomized study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).


METHODS
University-affiliated hospital.


METHODS
The 1107 consecutive women undergoing laparoscopy over 1 year.


METHODS
Peritoneoscopy was performed during laparoscopy. All peritoneal proliferations were excised and examined by histology.


RESULTS
In 7.6% of patients there was histologic evidence of endosalpingiosis. The frequency in asymptomatic women undergoing elective sterilization was 8.3%, and in infertile patients it was not significantly higher (11.7%, p = 0.6765). No significant difference was seen between patients with (7.3%) and without (7.9%) lower abdominal pain (p = 0. 7027).


CONCLUSIONS
Endosalpingiosis is the second most common cause of peritoneal proliferation in the lower abdomen, with histologic evidence of the disorder in more than 7% of premenopausal women. In contrast to endometriosis, endosalpingiosis plays only a minor role in the evaluation of infertility and lower abdominal pain. Because of its relationship to serous ovarian neoplasms of low malignant potential, further prospective studies are urgently needed.
Hesseling
M H
MH
Center for Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery, Bethesda-Clinic, University of Bochum, Hainstrasse 35, D-42109 Wuppertal, Germany.
De Wilde
R L
RL
D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000150:complications; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000473:pathology*