PHOTODYNAMIC DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS USING 5-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID -A PILOT-STUDY

Purpose: Is it possible to visualize atypical endometriotic changes? M aterial and Methods: 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was administered betw een 4-12 h preoperatively in different dosage and concentration. The D -Light-System (Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) was used to induce fluoresc ence. Results: The present pilot study permits a first interpretation of the photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) of endometriotic implants after to pical and oral application of ALA: topical, transuterine application o f ALA is obviously connected with serious phototoxic side effects that cannot be tolerated. The typical darkish endometriotic implants, in t he literature, often described as non-active lesions showed no fluores cence. On the other hand, the PDD of atypical peritoneal implants is p ossible, even though selective accumulation in the tubes could not be excluded due to the topical and oral application of ALA. Conclusions: PDD of endometriosis using ALA could improve the diagnosis of endometr iosis.