title: Histologic appearance of endometriosis infiltrating uterosacral ligaments in women with painful symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the histologic appearance of deep endometriosis infiltrating the uterosacral ligaments (USL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-nine women with pain due to endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resection of one or both USL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-two USL were examined by histology after unilateral resection in 126 patients (84.6%) and bilateral resection in 23 (15.4%). Two-thirds of women (122, 70.9%) had a classic appearance of endometriosis. Lesions of myoproliferative endometriosis with a histologic appearance of so-called adenomyotic nodules were observed in 25 (14.5%). Associated fibrosis was most frequent in patients with positive compared with negative histology (85, 69.7% vs 18, 36.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anatomicopathologic lesions of deep endometriosis infiltrating the USL are heterogeneous. Adenomyotic nodules are not frequently observed.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Gynécologique, Clinique Universitaire Baudelocque, Cochin Port-Royal, 123 Boulevard Port-Royal, 75014 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bonte
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chapron
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fauconnier
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fritel
authors.forename: Marie-Cécile
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vacher-Lavenu
authors.forename: Jean-Bernard
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dubuisson
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001956:Broad Ligament / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index