Clinical characteristics of congenital cervical atresia and associated endometriosis among 96 patients

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the anatomic variety of congenital cervical atresia and to explore the relationship between this disorder and pelvic endometriosis. MethodsIn a retrospective study, records were reviewed for 96 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of congenital cervical atresia treated at a center in Beijing, China, between January 1984 and October 2014. Data on demographic parameters, symptoms, anatomic features, and endometriosis were obtained and analyzed. ResultsOf the 96 patients, 54 (56%) had pelvic endometriosis, 23 (24%) had a uterine malformation, 75 (78%) had a vaginal malformation, and 12 (13%) had a urinary malformation. The patients with a delay from first symptoms to surgery of more than 1year had a higher incidence of endometriosis than did those with a delay of 1year or less (45/71 [63%] vs 7/23 [30%]; P=0.006), and this trend was not related to the severity of endometriosis (P=0.658). Among the 31 patients with unilateral endometrial cysts, 20 (65%) had left-sided cysts and 11 (35%) had right-sided cysts (P=0.005). ConclusionMore than half of patients with congenital cervical atresia had pelvic endometriosis. Early diagnosis and surgery seem to be necessary to prevent endometriosis among patients with congenital cervical atresia.