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Research Question: How are markers of cell death, invasiveness and progesterone signalling expressed in endometrium and ectopic lesions from adenomyosis patients?, Design: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue was collected from 15 control and 15 adenomyosis participants . To assess cell survival capacity, caspase 3 and microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) were immunolabelled as markers of apoptosis and autophagy respectively. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) expression served as a marker of extracellular matrix degradation and invasion activity. Progesterone receptors were immunostained to detect evidence of progesterone resistance., Results: Caspase 3 expression was significantly lower in the stromal (P = 0.0013) and epithelial (P = 0.0157) compartments of adenomyotic lesions than in healthy endometrial tissue. In the stroma, caspase 3 expression was significantly weaker in lesions than in corresponding eutopic endometrium (P = 0.0006). LC3B immunostaining was significantly decreased in adenomyotic stroma compared with corresponding eutopic endometrium (P = 0.0349). A significantly higher expression of MMP9 was detected in eutopic stroma from adenomyosis patients than in healthy tissue (P = 0.0295). Progesterone receptor immunostaining was found to be significantly weaker in the stroma of endometrium and ectopic lesions from adenomyosis patients than disease-free women (P = 0.0001; P = 0.0021)., Conclusions: Adenomyotic lesions show lower levels of apoptosis and autophagy, suggesting that aberrant cell survival may be involved in disease pathogenesis. MMP9 appears to contribute to endometrial invasiveness in adenomyosis, as its expression is more pronounced in endometrium from these women than women without the disease. Evidence of progesterone resistance can be found in endometrium and ectopic lesions from adenomyosis patients, and may drive disease development and account for the failure of certain patients to respond to progestogens., (Copyright © 2023 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: Assess efficacy, safety, fertility outcomes and recurrence after laparoscopic resection of bladder endometriosis (BE) using a CO 2 laser., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Settings: University gynecologic surgery unit, referral center for endometriosis., Patients: A total of 207 women having undergone laparoscopic BE excision between January 1998 and January 2019., Interventions: None., Main Outcome Measures: Intra- and postoperative complication rates. Disease recurrence and fertility outcomes in patients with a minimum 1-year follow-up (n = 176) for "isolated" and "non-isolated" BE groups., Results: Forty-three patients presented with isolated BE. Bladder "shaving" without mucosae opening was performed in 50.7% cases. No intraoperative complications were noted. One postoperative grade 3 complication was related to BE excision: a bladder breach requiring closure by repeat laparoscopy. Mean (± SD) follow-up was 7.05 (± 4.65) years. In patients wishing to conceive (n = 132), the total pregnancy rate (PR) was 75% (48.5% spontaneous), 76.19% in the isolated BE group (56.3% spontaneous). Among the 94 patients with previous infertility, 74.5% conceived, 50% spontaneously. No statistical difference was found in PR and need for in vitro fertilization between isolated and nonisolated BE groups. BE recurrence rate was 3.4%. No difference was observed between groups with full-thickness bladder resection (4/88) and shaving (2/88) (p = .406). Age at surgery (hazard ratio 0.91 [0.84-0.98], p = .016) and postoperative pregnancy (hazard ratio 0.07 [0.01-0.91], p = .042) showed influence on disease recurrence., Conclusions: The study demonstrates that laparoscopic BE removal is feasible with very low complications rates and was associated with high PR (both spontaneous and in vitro fertilization), even in patients with previous infertility. BE recurrence is lower than for other endometriosis locations. Bladder endometriosis; Laparoscopy; Deep infiltrating endometriosis; Fertility; Partial bladder resection., (Copyright © 2022 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To define the role of surgery in the treatment of endometriomas, we review the literature available via PubMed and cross-reference the published data. We analyze the arguments in favor of and against surgical treatment of endometriomas and compare surgical techniques. Pain relief and pregnancy rates of more than 50% after surgery are the most important arguments in favor of surgery. Histologic and biologic markers of ovarian reserve show a risk of decreased ovarian reserve that should be taken into consideration, especially in cases of repeated surgery. Considerable surgical expertise is required, and the lack of comparative studies yields no conclusions on the best surgical technique. Despite the risk of decreased ovarian reserve due to the surgical procedure, surgery has an important role in the treatment of ovarian endometriomas, and more studies are required to define the most appropriate surgical technique., (Copyright © 2012 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Endometriosis is one of the most frequently encountered benign diseases in gynecology. Complete resolution of endometriosis is not yet possible, but therapy has essentially three main objectives: (1) to preserve and improve fertility, (2) to reduce pain, and (3) to delay recurrence for as long as possible. The aim of this paper is to focus on fertility preservation in women with severe endometriosis. In moderate and severe endometriosis, a medico-surgical approach remains the gold standard, but more and more papers are reporting a low ovarian reserve after laparoscopic cystectomy for endometriomas. Indeed, very frequently, normal ovarian tissue is excised together with the endometrioma wall. Ovarian surgery in endometriosis patients should therefore be performed by experienced surgeons in order to both preserve and improve fertility. Preservation of ovarian tissue should be considered in all patients at serious risk of future fertility impairment, particularly before any treatment likely to result in ovarian endometriosis recurrence and/or premature ovarian failure.

Objective: To describe and evaluate a new technique of laparoscopic treatment of endometriomas that combines excisional and ablative surgery., Design: Descriptive and prospective study., Setting: Gynecology research unit in a university hospital., Patient(s): Fifty-two women under 35 years of age presenting for infertility and/or pelvic pain with endometriomas larger than 3 cm were included in the study. None had undergone any surgery for endometriosis., Intervention(s): A large part of the endometrioma wall was first excised according to the cystectomy technique. After this first step, CO(2) laser was used to vaporize the remaining 10%-20% of the endometrioma wall close to the hilus., Main Outcome Measure(s): The feasibility of this new technique was assessed. Ovarian volume and antral follicle count (AFC) were compared between operated ovaries and nonoperated ovaries of patients with endometriosis and controls (women with male factor infertility)., Result(s): The combined technique was possible in all cases. The volume of the ovary after the combined technique was similar to that of the contralateral normal ovary, as well as to that observed in infertile women without endometriosis presenting for male factor infertility. The AFC on day 2-5 showed the same number of antral follicles in all subgroups. Histopathology of the excised part of the endometrioma revealed the presence of follicles in only one case (2%). The pregnancy rate was 41% at a mean follow-up of 8.3 months. Recurrence of a small endometrioma was observed in only one case (2%)., Conclusion(s): The combined technique (stripping and ablation) has proved not to be deleterious to the ovary., (Copyright (c) 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ovarian remnant syndrome is a rare but known complication of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy associated or not with hysterectomy. This complication is frequently related to a history of multiple surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease, or endometriosis. Here we report the eighth documented case of a primary ovarian adenocarcinoma developing in an ovarian remnant but, to our knowledge, the first case to occur after laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. We discuss the management of pelvic masses suspected of malignancy after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and the possible role of endometriosis in the development of malignancy in ovarian remnant syndrome.

A late consequence of ureteral endometriosis is the silent loss of renal function caused by progressive "enclosure" of the lower part of the ureter by the endometriosis. In our experience, in cases of severe loss of renal function with cortical atrophy and residual kidney function (evaluated by Tc99 DMSA scintigraphy) of less than 15%, removal of the endometriosis combined with ureterolysis does not allow recovery of renal function. A nonfunctioning kidney associated with hydronephrosis is a risk factor for vascular hypertension, recurrent pyelonephritis, or kidney stones and therefore an indication for nephrectomy. By means of a case report, this paper describes the combination of laparoscopic nephrectomy, ureterectomy, removal of the rectovaginal endometriotic nodule, and extraction of the kidney through the vagina.

Study Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of an unexpected complication due to morcellation and to describe the appearance of this complication on magnetic resonance imaging, as well as its therapy., Design: A well-designed controlled trial without randomization (Canadian Task Force classification II-1)., Setting: Academic hospital., Patients: One thousand four-hundred five patients who underwent laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LASH) in our department from 1990 through 2005 by surgeons using the same technique., Intervention: Morcellation was performed using Steiner's 15-mm electric morcellator., Measurements and Main Results: After 1405 LASH procedures, we encountered 8 cases (0.57%) of deep dyspareunia and pelvic pain caused by heterogeneous masses (median size 45 mm, range 20-80 mm). Symptoms appeared between 2 and 9 years after surgery. Vaginal examination revealed a painful pelvic mass in all 8 patients. The median CA 125 level was 52 IU/mL (range 19.4-128 IU/mL). Magnetic resonance imaging revealed heterogeneous masses containing hyperintense signals on T1-weighted images with saturation of fatty tissue. Injection of gadolinium revealed vascularization of the masses. Laparoscopic excision was performed, and extensive dissection of the rectum and pararectal fossa was required to isolate the masses. Histologic examination showed adenomyosis. Such complications occurred after electric morcellation of myomatous uterine corpora associated with adenomyosis., Conclusion: These lesions probably result from the growth of missed fragments of uterine corpus after previous morcellation, culminating in the development of symptomatic iatrogenic adenomyomas. For this reason, the abdominal cavity must be meticulously inspected after electric morcellation, especially in patients with adenomyotic uteri.

We describe an unusual case of ascites caused by the rupture of a large endometrioma.

The efficacy of medical and surgical treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility and pelvic pain is a source of ongoing controversy. Complete resolution of endometriosis is not yet possible and current therapy has three main objectives: (1) to reduce pain; (2) to increase the possibility of pregnancy; and (3) to delay recurrence for as long as possible. It is possible that a consensus will never be reached on the optimal treatment of minimal and mild endometriosis. In case of moderate and severe endometriosis-associated infertility, the combined approach (operative laparoscopy with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist) should be considered as 'first-line' treatment. The mean pregnancy rate of 50% reported in the literature following surgery provides scientific proof that operative treatment should first be undertaken to give our patients the best chance of conceiving naturally. In case of rectovaginal adenomyotic nodules, surgery must be considered as first-line therapy, medical therapy being relatively in-efficacious.

Peritoneal endometriosis is probably caused by the implantation of regurgitated menstrual cells. The ovarian endometrioma is the consequence of non-hormone-regulated bleeding from intraovarian epithelial inclusions after they have undergone metaplasia into endometrial-like tissue. Rectovaginal adenomyosis is, in fact, an adenomyotic lesion and can develop from Müllerian rests. In conclusion, peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis, and rectovaginal adenomyotic nodules must be considered as three separate entities with different pathogeneses that require a different therapeutic approach.

The efficacy of medical and surgical treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility and pelvic pain is a source of questions and controversies. Complete resolution of endometriosis is not yet possible, but therapy has essentially three main objectives: (1) to reduce pain, (2) to increase the possibility of pregnancy, and (3) to delay recurrence for as long as possible. It could be concluded that a consensus will probably never be reached on minimal and mild endometriosis. In cases of moderate and severe endometriosis-associated infertility, the combined approach (operative laparoscopy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist) must be considered as first-line treatment. The mean pregnancy rate of 50% reported in the literature following surgery provides scientific proof that operative treatment should first be undertaken to give our patients the best chance of conceiving naturally. In cases of rectovaginal adenomyotic nodule, surgery must be considered as first-line therapy, medical therapy being relatively inefficacious.

The diagnosis of peritoneal endometriosis at the time of laparoscopy is often made by the observation of typically puckered black or bluish lesions. There are also numerous subtle appearances of peritoneal endometriosis. The lesions are frequently non-pigmented. Red flame-like lesions, glandular excrescences, and subovarian adhesions must be considered as the most active lesions. Sometimes, however, subtle endometriotic lesions can be the only lesions seen at laparoscopy.

This manuscript is a review of new ideas regarding the pathogenesis of peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis, and retroperitoneal adenomyosis. Peritoneal endometriosis, the different aspects of which (black, red and white) represent distinctive steps in the evolutionary process, can be explained by the transplantation theory. Red lesions are the most active and most highly vascularized lesions and are considered to be the first stage of peritoneal endometriosis. The retroperitoneal nodule is an adenomyotic nodule whose histopathogenesis is not related to the implantation of regurgitated endometrial cells but to metaplasia of Müllerian remnants located in the rectovaginal septum. Metaplastic changes of Müllerian rests into adenomyotic glands involving the rectovaginal septum and the retroperitoneal space are responsible for the striking proliferation of the smooth muscle, creating an adenomyomatous appearance similar to that of adenomyosis in the endometrium., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)

This article is a review of the efficacy of medical and surgical treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility and pelvic pain. Endometriosis is the cause of pelvic pain (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia) and infertility in more than 35% of women of reproductive age. Complete resolution of endometriosis is not yet possible but therapy has essentially three main objectives: (1) to reduce pain; (2) to increase the possibility of pregnancy; (3) to delay recurrence for as long as possible. It could be concluded that a consensus will probably never be reached on minimal and mild endometriosis. Nevertheless, because the Canadian study reported a large number of cases, we strongly support the view that visible endometriosis must be removed at the time of surgery. In cases of moderate and severe endometriosis-associated infertility, the combined approach (operative laparoscopy with GnRH-a) must be considered as 'first-line' treatment. The mean pregnancy rate of 50% reported in the literature following surgery provides scientific proof that operative treatment should be undertaken first to give our patients the best chance of conceiving naturally., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Objective: To describe the available knowledge on vulvo-perineal endometriosis including its diagnosis, clinical management and recurrence rate.Methods: We followed the PRISMA guidelines for Systematic Reviews and our study was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020202441). The terms “Endometriosis” and “Perineum” or “Vulva” were used as keywords. Cochrane Library, Medline/Pubmed, Embase and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched. Papers in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or Italian from inception to July 30, 2020 were considered. Reference lists of included articles and other literature source such as Google Scholar were also manually scrutinized in order to identify other relevant studies. Two independent reviewers screened potentially eligible studies according to inclusion criteria.Results: Out of 539 reports, 90 studies were eligible including a total of 283 patients. Their mean age was 32.7 ± 7.6 years. Two hundred sixty-three (95.3%) presenting with vulvo-perineal endometriosis have undergone either episiotomy, perineal trauma or vaginal injury or surgery. Only 13 patients (4.7%) developed vulvo-vaginal endometriosis spontaneously i.e., without any apparent condition favoring it. The reasons that motivated the patients to take medical advice were vulvo-perineal cyclical pain increasing during menstruations (98.2% of the patients, n = 278). Out of the 281 patients for whom a clinical examination was described, 274 patients (97.5%) showed a vulvo-perineal nodule, mass or swelling while six presented with bluish cutaneous lesions (2.1%) and 1 with bilateral polyps of the labia minora (0.4%). All but one patients underwent surgical excision of their lesions but only 88 patients (28.1%) received additional hormonal therapy. The recurrence rate was 10.2% (29 patients) considering a median follow-up period of 10 months (based on 61 studies).Conclusion: In conclusion, vulvo-perineal endometriosis is a rare entity with approximately 300 cases reported in the literature since 1923. With the available knowledge shown in this systematic review, we encourage all practitioners to think about perineal endometriosis in case of perineal cyclical pain with or without previous perineal damage. Diagnosis should be done with clinical exam, perineal ultrasound and pelvic MRI when available. In case of anal sphincter involvement, perianal ultrasound should be performed. Surgical excision of the lesion should be realized in order to remove the lesion and to confirm the diagnosis histologically. Hormonal treatment could be proposed to attempt to decrease the size of a large lesion before surgery or to avoid recurrence of the lesion. As evidence-based approach to the diagnosis, treatment and recurrence rate of affected patients remains a challenge given its low prevalence, the variations in management found in the articles included and the limited quality of available studies, we suggest that a prospective database on vulvo-perineal endometriosis should be generated to increase knowledge but also awareness among healthcare professionals and optimize patients' care.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42020202441.