ENDOMETRIOSIS IN GENERAL ABDOMINAL SURGERY

THE TREMENDOUS increase in the incidence of pelvic endometriosis during the last few years, together with the protean manifestations of the disease, make it of interest not only to the gynecologist but to the general abdominal surgeon as well. Since the days of Sampson's illuminating studies, more and more cases of endometriosis have been encountered on the gynecologic services of university hospitals, until today the disease is discovered to some degree in roughly half the patients subjected to abdominopelvic operation. It is my opinion that this increased incidence is not merely an apparent increase, resulting from a more critical evaluation of this much discussed disease, but is a real one. There has been much conjecture as to the cause of this increased incidence. More intrauterine and cervical instrumentation, particularly curettage, tubal insufflation and cervical cautery, with subsequent stenosis, are thought to be important factors. Perhaps the decreased frequency of gonorrheal