Laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To consider and explain the possibility of difficulties in diagnosis of endometriosis at previous laparoscopy


METHODS
Retrospective patient record review.


METHODS
The Endometriosis Care Centre of Australia and the private practices of authors.


METHODS
Two hundred and fifteen patients with clinical evidence of endometriosis examined laparoscopically between March 1999 and May 2001.


METHODS
Confirmation of endometriosis by histological biopsy.


RESULTS
Endometriosis was confirmed in 168 of the 215 women. Of these women 38 had a previous negative laparoscopy within 12 months of the current laparoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible that in some of the patients, who previously had a negative laparoscopy, endometriosis was not recognised. Possible reasons for difficulty in diagnosis have been identified and techniques to improve diagnosis suggested. This retrospective study was performed to consider and explain the possibility of difficulties in diagnosis of endometriosis at previous laparoscopy.
Wood
Carl
C
Cliveden Hill Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Kuhn
Raphael
R
Tsaltas
Jim
J
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010535:Laparoscopy; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies