Endometriosis & pelvic pain.txt

  1. what is endometriosis?
    presence and growth of tissue similar to endometrium outside the uterus
  2. on what 2 occasions does endometriosis regress? and why?
    • pregnancy
    • menopause
    • as it is oestrogen dependent and in these conditions, less oestrogen around
  3. what are 2 particular locations for endometriosis?
    • uterosacral ligaments
    • on/behing ovaries
  4. where are other occasional sites for endometriosis?
    • bladder
    • rectum
    • lung
    • abdominal wound scar
    • umbilicus
    • vagina
  5. what is the typical lesion in the ovary called?
    • endometrioma - accumulated altered blood which is dark brown
    • chocolate cyst
  6. what is the progression for endometriosis?
    • inflammation
    • progressive fibrosis
    • ADHESIONS
  7. what happens in the most severe form of endometriosis?
    • entire pelvis is FROZEN
    • pelvis organs are immobile by adhesions
  8. what is thought to be the main cause of endometriosis?
    retrograde menstruation
  9. how do more distant foci of endometriosis form?
    from mechanical, lymphatic or blood-borne spread
  10. what is the one main symptom of endometriosis?
    • CYCLICAL
    • chronic pelvic pain
  11. what are the main symptoms of endometriosis? (6)
    • dysmenorrhoea even before period starts
    • deep dyspareunia
    • infertility
    • dyschezia = pain on passing stools during menses
    • cyclical bladder (haematuria) or bowel symptoms - rectal bleeding
    • chronic pelvic pain
  12. why could endometriosis present acutely?
    rupture of chocolate cyst in ovary (endometrioma)
  13. what are the findings O/E of endometriosis
    • uterus is retroverted, fixed (due to adhesions)
    • nodules on uterosacral ligaments
    • tenderness, thickening behind uterus
  14. how is the diagnosis of endometriosis made?
    laparoscopy - visualisation and biopsy
  15. what can be seen on laparoscopy of endometriosis?
    • active lesions: red vesicles
    • less active: white scars or brown spots (powder burn)
  16. what indicates severe disease on laparoscopy?
    • extensive adhesions
    • endometriomata
  17. why is TVUS used?
    • exclude ovarian endometrioma
    • adenomyosis
  18. if there is evidence of deeply infiltrating endometirosis what Ix is done?
    MRI and maybe IVU
  19. what blood test may be raised in endometriosis but isn't specific?
    CA125
  20. what is differential diagnosis of endometriosis (5)?
    • adenomyosis
    • PID
    • chronic pelvic pain
    • other pelvic masses eg ovarian tumour
    • IBS
  21. what happens to endometriosis in over 50% of women?
    regresses or does not progress
  22. what are the 5 options for medical Rx of endometriosis?
    • analgesia: NSAIDs/complementary med - as some women don't like to take hormonal therapy
    • COCP
    • progestogens
    • GnRH analogue +- HRT addback
    • IUS
  23. how is the administration of COCP for endometriosis different for usual contraception?
    • often used back-to-back or tricycling
    • ie no break to reduce frequency of painful withdrawal bleeds
  24. how would GnRH analogues help in endometriosis?
    • induce menopausal state
    • lots of GnRH overstimulates pituitary so get downregulation of GnRH receptors
    • so the gonadotrophins and ovarian hormone production is therefore inhibited
  25. what needs to be done if want to use GnRH analogues for >6/12 and why?
    • due to reversible demineralisation of bones need to add HRT after 5 months
    • prevent bone loss
    • and reduce menopausal SE
  26. what type of Rx would women with endometriosis related pain and infertility usually go for and why?
    • surgery - destroy lesions
    • as improves conception rates
  27. if there is severe disease affecting fallopian tubes and pt is suffering from infertility, what is best Rx?
    IVF
  28. what are the 2 main surgical options for Rx of endometriosis?
    • laparoscopic laser ablation/diathermy +/- adhesiolysis
    • hysterectomy+BSO
  29. when there is pain during intercourse, what is this called?
    deep dyspareunia (not position dependent)
  30. what happens to endometriosis over time?
    gets worse
  31. what age group and parity are patients with endometriosis likely to be in?
    • 30-45
    • nulliparity
  32. what is this a typical description of: A 31-year-old nulliparous lady who complains of progressive pain during intercourse which may continue for some time afterwards, occurring at each intercourse and worsening over time.
    endometriosis
  33. what is Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome?
    • rare complication of PID
    • gonorrhoea or chlamydia cause infection and inflammation in pelvis
    • can cause scar tissue to form on Glisson's capsule around the liver
    • so get RUQ pain worse on coughing or movement and referred to R shoulder
  34. what is definition of chronic pelvic pain?
    • intermittent or constant pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis
    • >6 months
    • NOT occurring exclusively with menstruation or sex
  35. what % of women does CPP affect?
    15%
  36. what 3 Ix could you do for CPP?
    • TVUS
    • laparoscopy
    • MRI
  37. what are 2 causes of ongoing cyclical pelvic pain?
    • adenomyosis
    • endometriosis
    • they are both hormonally driven gynae conditions
    • suppression of ovarian activity cures 2/3
  38. what are features of torsion of ovary?
    • acute onset pain
    • unilateral - worse on one side
    • assoc with N&V
    • radiates to upper thighs
    • (fever later)
  39. if suspect mittelschmerz, what do you need to ask?
    LMP as its related to ovulation
  40. what are features of pain relating to endometriosis?
    • can start up to 2 weeks before period
    • relieved when bleeding starts
    • also get deep dyspareunia
  41. what are features of CPP that point to PID?
    • pain across whole of lower abdomen
    • vaginal discharge
    • fever in the hx
  42. which 2 bowel conditions can cause pelvic pain and need to be excluded? how distinguish the 2?
    • appendicitis: central then right sided, N&V
    • diverticulitis: older people, constipation
  43. what is differential for CHRONIC pelvic pain?
    • adenomyosis
    • endometriosis
    • adhesions
    • PID
    • gynae cancers
    • GI: diverticulitis, IBS
  44. what is differential for ACUTE pelvic pain?
    • PID
    • tubo-ovarian abscess: post TOP, IUCD insertion, hysteroscopy
    • EPAU: miscarriage, ectoptic
    • ovarian cyst: torsion, rupture, bleed
    • fibroid necrosis
    • mittelschmerz
    • abscess: bartholin's abscess
    • UTI
    • renal stones
    • appendicitis
  45. why do you need to ask about LMP?
    • pregnancy, ectopic, miscarriage
    • mittelschmerz
    • if perimenopausal: atrophic vaginitis leading to superficial dyspareunia
  46. why do you need to ask about recent gynae procedures - give eg
    • insert IUCD
    • TOP
    • hysteroscopy
    • as risk of PID
  47. if a pt had previous PID, what could now be causing their CPP?
    adhesions
  48. what are risk factors for adhesions causing CPP?
    • previous PID
    • previous pelvic surgery
  49. what 2 things need to be asked in sexual hx?
    • contraception - if new partner and no barrier method - PID
    • difficulty with sex - vaginismus
  50. what needs to be asked in past obs hx?
    • recent childbirth - vaginal lacerations, episiotomy
    • superficial dyspareunia
  51. what are 3 pelvic disease causes of deep dyspareunia?
    • endometriosis
    • fibroids
    • ovarian cyst/tumour
  52. what are 7 categories of dyspareunia?
    • congenital: vaginal atresia/septum
    • infection: PID
    • post surgery: pelvic floor repair/childbirth related
    • vulval: bartholin's cyst, vulval dystrophy, vulval cancer
    • pelvic: fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian tumour/cyst
    • psychological: vaginismus
    • atrophic: postmenopausal
  53. on bimanual examination, which condition is assoc with cervical excitation?
    PID
  54. if on bimanual tender nodules are felt eg posterior fornix or POD what is it?
    endometriosis
  55. name 5 conditions causing pelvic pain that may present with a pelvic mass?
    • endometriosis
    • ectopic prengancy
    • ovarian cyst/tumour
    • fibroid
    • tubo-ovarian abscess
  56. how does the uterus typically feel with adenomyosis?
    tender and bulky
  57. which 5 categories of Ix do we do in pelvic pain?
    • bloods: FBC, pregnancy, G&S (in case something ruptures), CRP
    • infection screen: MSU, HVS, EC swab, urethral swab
    • radiological: USS, AXR
    • biopsy for vulval disease
    • laparoscopy
  58. which 5 conditions can laparoscopy diagnose/exclude?
    • endometriosis
    • adhesions
    • ectopic pregnancy
    • ovarian cyst
    • adhesions
  59. what are the top 2 most common gynaecological conditions?
    • 1. fibroids
    • 2. endometriosis
  60. why do you get cyclical pain in endometriosis?
    • because deposits of endometriosis, whatever their location in the body
    • respond to ovarian cycle
    • bleeding from the deposits causes local irritation and inflammatory responses
  61. what can rupture of ovarian endometrioma cause?
    peritonism due to very irritant 'chocolate' material from the cyst
Author
kavinashah
ID
73139
Card Set
Endometriosis & pelvic pain.txt
Description
endometi
Updated