What is endometriosis?

➢ Defined by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma in a location outside the uterus ➢ This endometrium is functional and undergoes cyclic bleeding. ➢ Because blood collects in these aberrant foci, they appear grossly as red-brown nodules or implants. ➢ They range in size from microscopic to 1 to 2 cm in diameter and lie on or just under the affected serosal surface. ➢ Often, individual lesions coalesce to form larger masses. ➢ When the ovaries are involved, the lesions may form large, blood-filled cysts that turn brown (chocolate cysts) as the blood ages ➢ With seepage and organization of the blood, widespread fibrosis occurs, leading to adhesions among pelvic structures, sealing of the tubal fimbriated ends, and distortion of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. ➢ The diagnosis depends on finding both endometrial glands and stroma at sites external to the endometrium