Laparoscopic management of ureteral endometriosis: the Stanford University hospital experience with 96 consecutive cases.
OBJECTIVE
We report the clinical characteristics and the principles of laparoscopic management of ureteral endometriosis at our institution.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients with ureteral endometriosis.


RESULTS
Preoperatively 97% of patients complained of pain but only a third had urinary symptoms. The left ureter was affected in 64% of cases and disease was bilateral in 10%. Four patients had hydroureter and 2 had hydronephrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge this report represents the largest series of laparoscopically treated, pathologically confirmed ureteral endometriotic cases to date. It confirms that laparoscopic diagnosis and management of ureteral endometriosis are safe and efficient. All patients who undergo laparoscopy for endometriosis should be evaluated for possible ureteral involvement regardless of the presence or absence of urinary symptoms, or prior radiological evaluation since undiagnosed ureteral disease may result in loss of renal function.
Bosev
Dorian
D
Department of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA.
Nicoll
Linda M
LM
Bhagan
Lisa
L
Lemyre
Madeleine
M
Payne
Christopher K
CK
Gill
Harcharan
H
Nezhat
Camran
C
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult