Is rectovaginal endometriosis a progressive disease?

Luigi Fedele, Stefano Bianchi, Giovanni Zanconato, Zanconato G, Ricciarda Raffaelli, Nicola Berlanda
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2004 · vol. 191(5) , pp. 1539–1542 · doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2004.06.104 · PMID:15547522 · W2036458563
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This paper investigates whether rectovaginal endometriosis exhibits progressive characteristics.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to observe the natural history of untreated asymptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective, observational study. Eighty-eight patients with untreated asymptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis were followed for 1 to 9 years. Pain symptoms and clinical and transrectal ultrasonographic findings were evaluated before and every 6 months after diagnosis. RESULTS: Two patients had specific symptoms that were attributable to rectovaginal endometriosis that was associated with an increase in lesion size and underwent surgery. In 4 other patients, the size of the endometriotic lesions increased, but the patients remained symptom free. The estimated cumulative proportion of patients with progression of disease and/or appearance of pain symptoms that were attributable to rectovaginal endometriosis after 6 years of follow up was 9.7%. For the remaining patients, the follow-up period was uneventful, with no detectable clinical nor echographic changes of the lesions and with no appearance of new symptoms. CONCLUSION: Progression of the disease and appearance of specific symptoms rarely occurred in patients with asymptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_painbowel_endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Rectal Diseases Vaginal Diseases Adult Adult Disease Progression Disease Progression Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Female Humans Humans Longitudinal Studies Longitudinal Studies Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Prospective Studies Prospective Studies

Citation neighborhood

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Cited by (50)

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