MÉTODOS DIAGNÓSTICOS PARA O TRATAMENTO DA ENDOMETRIOSE

Abstract

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that affects around 10% to 15% of women of reproductive age and can be asymptomatic or present symptoms of great relevance affecting the woman’s social life. Thus, among the most reported manifestations, chronic abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, urinary and/or bowel movements symptoms and infertility stand out. Pelvic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging examinations may reveal consistent foci of endometrioma or deep infiltrative endometriosis. However, these imaging tests do not have the specificity necessary for the diagnosis of superficial peritoneal endometriosis. The measurement of the CA-125 marker is the most used laboratory test to investigate the disease. CA-125 is a blood protein that at high levels can be indicative of endometriosis, with a sensitivity of 75% sufficient to indicate the disease. However, the exam that presents a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis characterized by a gold standard procedure is laparoscopy and anatomopathological analysis, which consists of a risky and high-cost procedure, but of great importance in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Endometriosis is a chronic, benign and progressive disease, early diagnosis is extremely important to avoid further complications for women, such as highly complex surgery and infertility.