title: The laparoscopic treatment of bladder endometriosis. A retrospective analysis of 21 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial tissue, including endometrial glands and stroma, outside the uterine cavity. The incidence of endometriosis in the general population is almost unknown, because it varies between 1% and 50%, depending on the paper considered. In any case, the incidence of bladder endometriosis is generally considered about 1% or less of endometriotic patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative exams and the effectiveness of laparoscopic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 21 patients operated laparoscopically for a severe stage of endometriosis, including at least a bladder localization of 10 mL; in 60% of cases a bowel surgery was associated in the cause of a digestive endometriosis. A complete preoperative and follow-up evaluation was carried out for all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preoperative investigation, especially abdominal sonography, predicted endometriotic bladder invasion in only 38% of cases. Urinary symptomatology was present in only 61.9% of cases. The postoperative follow-up showed the remarkable effectiveness of laparoscopic treatment for the cancellation of pain and to improve the quality of life for patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Finally, the treatment of severe endometriosis is possible and effective by laparoscopy even in the cases where there is a bladder localization and when, in the absence of specific symptomatology, it isn't diagnosed preoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics Gynecology Unit, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy. marco.salvatores@libero.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatores
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceccaroni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiaccavento
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zaccoletti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods