The diagnostic value of laparoscopy in women with pelvic pain.

One hundred and fifty-four patients who had a diagnostic laparoscopy for pelvic pain from 1 November 1984 to 30 October 1987 were reviewed. A total of 68 of these patients had normal pre-operative pelvic examinations; 40 (59%) had abnormal findings on diagnostic laparoscopy. Of the 86 patients with abnormal pre-operative pelvic examinations, 17 (20%) had normal findings on diagnostic laparoscopy. There is a significant error in evaluating the pelvis by clinical examination alone. The results are in accord with those of previous studies and emphasise the importance of laparoscopy in the management of women with pelvic pain.