The visual appearance of endometriosis and its impact on our concepts of disease

Endometriosis can have very subtle visual appearances. All theories of origin imply some early and presumably tiny form of the disease which potentially cannot be detected by the unaided human eye. A review of the literature indicates that with increasing magnification at surgery, virtually all endometriosis can be visualized. Invisible microscopic endometriosis is an unproven entity which retards intellectual progress in the study of this disease.

Diagnosis · Staging and Classification

Age-related evolution in color appearance of endometriosis

Redwine DB, 1987 Fertil Steril

Endometriosis presents a large variety of color manifestations, most nonblack, and many easily missed unless meticulous inspection is used to identify small or nonhemorrhagic lesions. An evolution in appearance with age may occur, with resultant spurious effects on conclusions regarding the natural history of the disease. This study confirms and expands the concept of nonhemorrhagic appearances presented by Jansen and Russell.

PMID 2137622 2137622 Redwine et al. 1990, Redwine 1990

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