IS HORMONAL TREATMENT EFFICACIOUS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OVARIAN CYSTS IN WOMEN WITH HISTORIES OF ENDOMETRIOSIS

In a controlled, randomized study, we evaluated the effectiveness of v arious hormonal regimens in treating 70 women (mean age 34.7 +/- 5.7 y ears) who had unilateral or bilateral ovarian cysts presumed to be phy siological (functional) and a history of endometriosis. The patients w ere assigned randomly to one of the following groups: group I (control ), no treatment; group Il,oral contraceptives (35 mu g ethinyl oestrad iol and 1 mg norethindrone); group III, oral contraceptives (50 mu g e thinyl oestradiol and 1 mg norethindrone); group IV, danazol 800 mg/da y, Serum CA-125 concentrations were measured in 32 women, All medicati ons were taken continuously for 6 weeks, Subjects were re-evaluated by pelvic examination and transvaginal ultrasound. Those with persistent cysts were offered diagnostic and possible operative laparoscopy, As 11 patients did not complete the study and live did not follow-up, the final study population comprised 54 women, At 6 weeks follow-up, comp lete resolution of cysts was found in: group I, 12 out of 18 (66.7%); group FI, five out of nine (55.6%); group III, eight out of 14 (57.1%) ; and group IV, seven out of 13 (53.9%). Two of the 22 women with pers istent cysts opted for 6 weeks further medical therapy and achieved co mplete resolution; 19 underwent laparoscopy, and one was lost to follo w-up, All laparoscopic findings revealed benign masses, We Found no st atistically significant effect when hormonal treatment was compared wi th expectant management, There was no correlation between serum CA-125 concentrations and the persistence or resolution of cysts.