Endosalpingiosis in laparoscopy

Study Objective. To estimate the laparoscopic frequency of endosalpingiosis Versus other causes of peritoneal proliferation. Design. Clinic-based, prospective, nonrandomized study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting. University-affiliated hospital. Patients. The 1107 consecutive women undergoing laparoscopy over 1 year. in tervention. Peritoneoscopy was performed during laparoscopy. All peritoneal proliferations were excised and examined by histology. Measurements and Main Results. In 7.6% of patients there was histologic evi dence of endosalpingiosis. The frequency in asymptomatic women undergoing e lective sterilization was 8.3%, and in infertile patients it was not signif icantly higher (11.7%, p = 0.6765). No significant difference was seen betw een patients with (7.3%) and without (7.3%) lower abdominal pain (p = 0.702 7). Conclusion. Endosalpingiosis is the second most common cause of peritoneal proliferation in the lower abdomen, with histologic evidence of the disorde r in more than 7% of premenopausal women. In contrast to endometriosis, end osalpingiosis plays only a minor role in the evaluation of infertility and lower abdominal pain. Because of its relationship to serous ovarian neoplas ms of low malignant potential, further prospective studies are urgently nee ded.