Does deep endometriosis infiltrating the uterosacral ligaments present an asymmetric lateral distribution?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether deeply infiltrating endometriosis occurs with equal frequency between left and right uterosacral ligaments.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of consecutive cases.


METHODS
Department of gynaecological surgery in a tertiary care university hospital in Paris, France.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty consecutive women with laparoscopic resection of histologically proven deep endometriosis infiltrating the uterosacral ligaments.


METHODS
Laterality, intraoperative aspect of the uterosacral ligaments, and associated endometriosis were recorded during laparoscopy. Deep endometriosis infiltrating the uterosacral ligaments was considered as histologically proven in the presence of endometrial glands and stroma.


METHODS
Frequency of left- and right-sided deep endometriosis infiltrating the uterosacral ligaments.


RESULTS
The left uterosacral ligament alone was involved in 69 cases; the right uterosacral ligament alone was involved in 38 cases; both were involved in 23 cases. For patients with unilateral deep endometriosis infiltrating the uterosacral ligaments the observed proportion of endometriosis involving the left uterosacral ligament (69/107, 64.5%) was significantly different from the expected proportion of 50% (chi2 = 8.98; P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Anatomical differences between left and right hemipelvis and differences in the frequency of ovulation between right and left ovary could explain these results.
Chapro
C
C
Hospital of Paris, Gynaecological Surgery Service, Baudelocque University, France.
Fauconnier
A
A
Dubuisson
J B
JB
Vieira
M
M
Bonte
H
H
Vacher-Lavenu
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008022:Ligaments / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012447:Sacrum; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery