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The role of definitive surgery and hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of endometriosis

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Modern Approaches to Endometriosis

Abstract

Since the first reported case of endometriosis, ’called an adenomyoma’ by von Rokitansky in 18601, and the introduction of the term endometriosis by Blair Bell in 19222, the condition has continued to attract much debate concerning the correct surgical management. It is currently the second most common gynaecological surgical abnormality encountered after uterine leiomyomata. The overall incidence is estimated at between 1–2%3,4 and 7– 10.5%5 of women during their reproductive years. Darbois5 claims that 9% of all gynaecological surgery is undertaken for endometriosis, and American figures are higher: Jeffcoate6 and Tyson7 estimate that endometriosis accounts for 10–25% of surgical intervention for pain. The discrepancy between the various figures undoubtedly results from the range in severity of the condition and the difficulty in establishing a standard classification of this severity.

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Henderson, A.F., Studd, J.W.W. (1991). The role of definitive surgery and hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of endometriosis. In: Thomas, E.J., Rock, J.A. (eds) Modern Approaches to Endometriosis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3864-2_15

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