title: Pain in the upper anterior-lateral part of the thigh in women affected by endometriosis: study of sensitive neuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether pain in the anterior-lateral part of the thigh in women affected by endometriosis is due to femoral nerve invasion by endometriotic implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 30 patients with endometriosis and leg pain in the anterior-lateral part of the thigh and 30 healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin biopsy and neurologic examination for detection of neuropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intraepidermal small fiber density reduction and positive neurologic examination agree with sensitive neuropathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biopsy results showed no statistically significant difference between the case group and the control group. At neurologic examination nine patients in the study group (30%) showed positive results, none in the control group showed signs. These nine patients had reduced intraepidermal small fiber density, compared to the lower cutoff values of the control group, suggesting a sensitive neuropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When there is leg pain in women with endometriosis it is important to distinguish neuropathic from referred pain. Skin biopsy and neurologic examination should be introduced in the management of leg pain in endometriosis, due to their low invasiveness to diagnose a sensitive neuropathy. As a result early detection of nerve injury and planning for a prompt specific treatment would be possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecological, and Urological Sciences, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacchiarotti
authors.forename: Giusi Natalia
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Milazzo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biasiotta
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caserta
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moscarini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D013848:Thigh / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult