We analyzed 45 pelvic endometrial implants from 42 patients between th
e ages of 14 and 40 years to investigate whether cytogenetic abnormali
ties were present in these samples. Chromosomal abnormalities have bee
n described in benign tumors of the female genital tract, such as uter
ine leiomyomas and endometrial polyps. Furthermore, heritable factors
have been postulated to influence a woman's susceptibility to develop
endometrial tissue implants outside the uterine cavity. To study wheth
er these factors result in or are associated with chromosomal changes,
endometriosis cells were analyzed cytogenetically after short-term cu
lture. No consistent chromosome abnormalities were observed in any of
the cases analyzed.