Hormonal and immunologic methods in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with benign ovarian tumors and endometriotic cysts.

OBJECTIVE

To compare efficacy of various methods for characterizing endometriosis and benign ovarian tumors.

DESIGN

Two parallel groups of patients, 54 with endometriotic ovarian cysts and 48 with benign tumors.

SETTING

Central clinic.

PATIENTS

Patients referred from all regions over a 5-year period.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Estrogen Estrogen and progesterone receptor levels of endometrium and endometriotic foci, CA-125 concentration, and estradiol, progesterone, LH, and testosterone blood levels.

RESULTS

LH levels elevated during follicular phase in patients; estradiol levels reduced; receptor levels abnormal in endometriosis, but not in benign ovarian cysts.

CONCLUSIONS

Hormone therapy is adequate treatment for endometriotic cysts. CA-125 is not a reliable indicator for differential diagnosis.