Computed Tomography–Based Radiation Therapy of Ovarian Remnants for Symptomatic Persistent Endometriosis

Karl E Haglund, Karl Haglund, Akila N Viswanathan
Obstetrics and gynecology · 2008 · vol. 111(2) , pp. 579–583 · doi:10.1097/01.aog.0000299877.71874.91 · PMID:18239029 · W2060385935
article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 5 in-corpus citations
View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, a major cause of pelvic pain in women, is driven by estrogen. Ovarian remnant irradiation may alleviate pelvic pain by eliminating estrogen production in appropriately selected women with endometriosis. CASE: Three patients with endometriosis causing incapacitating pelvic pain received 3D-imaging-based external beam radiation to doses of 1,500 to 2,100 cGy. All had pre-irradiation premenopausal follicle stimulating hormone levels and imaging evidence of ovarian remnants. None were candidates for further medical or surgical interventions. By 3 months after radiation, follicle stimulating hormone levels reached postmenopausal levels in all three patients, with complete resolution of the severe pelvic pain. CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy effectively induced menopause and relieved refractory pain from endometriosis. Careful selection of patients is necessary, given the potential for an increased long-term risk of radiation-related complications.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Ovarian Diseases Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted Adult Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Ovarian Diseases Ovarian Diseases Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Citation neighborhood

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. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (9)

Cited by (5)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-06-13T06:22:48.782012+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-05-13T22:14:42.556217+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK