The Asymmetry Distribution of Endometriotic Lesions: Italian Multicenter Study

The Asymmetry of Endometriotic Lesions as Demonstration of the Theory of Menstrual Reflux and Anatomical Niches: Italian Multicenter Study by the ETIC Group

This study aims to understand whether endometriosis lesions - and tumors that can arise in association with endometriosis - occur more often on one side of the pelvis than the other.

During surgery, doctors will record the exact location of each lesion to see if there is a consistent right- or left-sided pattern.

Understanding these patterns may help improve knowledge about how endometriosis develops (pathogenesis), and thus improve its treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age ≥18 years at the time of histological diagnosis of endometriosis
• patients undergoing surgery with endometriotic lesions or patients with endometriotic lesions associated with endometrioid or clear cell ovarian cancer (Stage I-II) or borderline seromucinous ovarian cancer
• first operation for endometriosis in the reference center (if recurrence consider only if both operations were performed at the reference center).

Exclusion Criteria:

• age <18 years
• patients affected by Stage I-II endometrioid or clear cell carcinoma or seromucinous borderline ovarian cancer not associated with endometriosis or in a more advanced stage of disease
• women with an ultrasound diagnosis of endometriosis who have not undergone surgery
• previous operations for endometriosis performed at another center