Diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis

Edyta J. Frackiewicz, Frackiewicz EJ, Victoria Zarotsky, Zarotsky V
Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy · 2003 · vol. 4(1) , pp. 67–82 · doi:10.1517/14656566.4.1.67 · PMID:12517244 · W2142511422
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This paper reviews the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, a chronic disease affecting women of reproductive age, highlighting laparoscopy as the primary diagnostic method and individualized medical or surgical treatments, noting frequent recurrence and promising experimental therapies.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic and progressive disease that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Its aetiology remains unknown, however, factors such as retrograde menstruation, heredity, impaired immune function and environmental toxins have been implicated. Laparoscopy is still considered the mainstay for diagnosis, however non-invasive diagnostic methods such as transvaginal ultrasound and MRI may also be complementary. Treatment should be individualised and current treatment options include medical treatment and surgery, however, disease recurrence is common following treatment. Hormonal therapy induces atrophy of endometriotic lesions. Conservative surgery may be successful in removing visible lesions, however in cases of severe or incapacitating illness, removal of the uterus and ovaries may be necessary. In such cases, extreme care must be taken to remove all traces of disease. Experimental treatments for endometriosis show promising preliminary results and include GnRH antagonists, aromatase inhibitors, selective oestrogen receptor modulators and mifepristone.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Chronic Disease Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans

Citation neighborhood (2-hop)

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. Outer rings show 2-hop neighbours — papers reached through the immediate citers/citees. [ collapse to 1-hop ]

References (100)

Cited by (12)

Source provenance

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