Three-dimensional architectures of peritoneal endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate some biological characteristics of peritoneal endometriosis. DESIGN: A recently advanced stereographic computer technology was applied for the investigation of the three-dimensional (3-D) architectures of peritoneal endometriosis. SETTING: University Hospital of Gynecology. PATIENTS: Biopsies were taken from 42 women with peritoneal endometriosis. Twenty-six of them were in the luteal phase. Seventeen of them received Zoladex (ICI, Cambridge, United Kingdom) for 12 weeks before biopsy. RESULTS: Two different main types could be identified according to the presence or absence of ramifications. The apparently multifocal occurrence (in 2-D) of glandular epithelium was not confirmed by the 3-D study that showed that all epithelial glands are interconnected by luminal structures in each peritoneal lesion. Stereometric study suggests a stronger effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy on the stroma than on the epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: The study evaluated the 3-D architectures of peritoneal endometriosis and identified two principal types of peritoneal endometriosis.