title: Complete laparoscopic excision of endometriosis in teenagers: is postoperative hormonal suppression necessary?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine long-term outcomes after complete laparoscopic excision done at a tertiary referral center in a teenager population, who were not specifically advised to take postoperative hormonal suppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational case series (Canadian Task Force II-3).
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary referral center that specializes in the laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teenagers with symptoms suspicious for endometriosis who consented and were prospectively recruited to participate in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and complete excision of all areas of abnormal peritoneum with typical and atypical endometriosis. Patients were not specifically advised to take postoperative hormonal suppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rate of recurrent (or persistent) endometriosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty teenagers underwent complete laparoscopic excision of all areas of abnormal peritoneum with typical and atypical endometriosis. Seventeen patients had endometriosis confirmed by histology at initial surgery. Follow-up was up to 66 months (average 23.1 months). There was a statistically significant improvement in most pain symptoms, including bowel-related symptoms, during this time period. The rate of repeat surgery was 8 of 17 patients (47.1%), but the rate of endometriosis (diagnosed visually or histologically) found at surgery was zero. Only one-third of patients took postoperative hormonal suppression for any length of time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complete laparoscopic excision of endometriosis in teenagers--including areas of typical and atypical endometriosis--has the potential to eradicate disease. These results do not depend on postoperative hormonal suppression. These data have important implications in the overall care of teenagers, regarding pain management, but also potentially for fertility. Further large comparative trials are needed to verify these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27704, USA. yeungpjr.md@gmail.com
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sinervo
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Winer
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Albee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D034445:Ovulation Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists