Laparoscopy and ultrasound in patients with chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

SummaryLaparoscopy was performed in 188 women with chronic pelvic pain. In 51 per cent of the patients the findings were normal.All the patients had had a pelvic examination; the predictive value of an abnormal pelvic examination was 70 per cent. Thirty-six per cent of the patients had had an ultrasound scan; the predictive value of an abnormal scan was 86 per cent.A major cause of discrepancy was the presence of pelvic adhesions, though it is doubtful if these alone cause pain. Both pelvic examination and ultrasound were inadequate to diagnose pelvic adhesions or endometriosis.Laparoscopy is recommended in differentiating between gynaecological disorders and psychogenic musculo-skeletal pain.