A 21-year-old member asked:
At the time of my laparoscopy, my doctor was not able to get a biopsy. is the physical appearance of endometriosis adequate for diagnosis?
4 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

Dr. Alfredo Nievesanswered
Gynecology 41 years experience
Biopsy endo: Endometriosis may look like many other things especially atypical endometriosis, for which reason a tissue diagnosis is very important to accurately diagnose the disease.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Susan Johnson commented
Gynecology 35 years experience
A 2nd opinion & surgery with an advanced laparoscopist can aid in the diagnosis & planning treatment
Oct 18, 2011

Dr. Scott Groveranswered
Surgery 27 years experience
YES: Endometriosis symptoms and seeing tissue suspicious of it during a laparoscopy is adequate for a diagnosis. If it is not very severe, there will be less, endometrial tissue to biopys.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Bryan Treacyanswered
Gynecology 36 years experience
Generally: Biopsy is best but visual along with the typical symtpomatology is adequate. The most painful lesions, however, are not the most obvious & we can only see 65% of the endometriosis that may be present.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Luis Gonzalezanswered
Obstetrics and Gynecology 40 years experience
Not always: Excision of endometriosis is important for the diagnosis since other conditions (endosalpingiosis and hemosiderin deposits) look similar. You could be referred to a specialist who can do the resection.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
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