Data from a Cohort of Newly Diagnosed with Endometriosis Do Not Demonstrate That Endometriosis Is Always a Progressive Disease.

Abstract

<h3>Study Objective</h3> To study the correlation between age and the severity (assessed with the rAFS score, deep nodule ≥ 2 cm) of the disease in patients newly and histologically diagnosed with endometriosis. <h3>Design</h3> A prospective multicenter cohort study. <h3>Setting</h3> Public and private gynecologic departments of Auvergne (geographical area). <h3>Patients or Participants</h3> A prospective multi-center cohort of patients leaving in 3 French departments, aged 15 to 50 years, newly and histologically diagnosed with endometriosis. <h3>Interventions</h3> At surgery, the endometriosis was treated thus allowing an adequate staging of the disease. <h3>Measurements and Main Results</h3> The severity of endometriosis was assessed using the RAFS score and the diameter of the largest deep nodule. The R-FS stage and the presence of a ≥ 2 cm nodule was correlated with age. The 981 patients were divided in 6 groups according to age: ≤ 20, 20-25, 26-30, 31-35, 36-40 and > 40. The percentage of patients with stage I endometriosis was respectively 76%, 26%, 24%, 24%, 33%, 19%. The percentage of stage II was 17%, 30%, 27%, 28%, 27%, 33%. The percentage of stage III was 6%, 26%, 22%, 22%, 18%, 14%. The percentage of stage IV was 0%, 16%, 25%, 24%, 20%, 32%. The percentage of patients with a deep nodule ≥ 2cm was respectively 0%, 23%, 19%, 22%, 16%, 10%. Patients with stage I disease were found in all age groups. The percentage of each stage and of patients with large nodules was similar and did not increased in all age groups after 20. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Prospective data obtained in patients newly diagnosed with endometriosis did not confirmed that endometriosis is always a progressive disease.