Ultrasound-guided aspiration of endometriomas: Possible applications and limitations

To evaluate the role of needle aspiration in the management of endometriomas.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of needle aspiration in the management of endometriomas. Design: Retrospective evaluation of the activity of the section of interventional ultrasound in a single tertiary care institution. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, University of Milan, Italy. Patients: Two hundred nine premenopausal patients underwent aspiration for diagnostic purpose (n = 166), for relief of symptoms (n = 25), or with therapeutic intent (n = 18). Results: Adequate material was obtained by all punctures. Early complications (self-limiting vagal symptoms or pain) occurred in eight cases. Short-term complications consisted of acute abdominal pain in three cases and infection in one. Three women required surgical treatment of the complication. At first examination after aspiration, persistence of the cyst was observed in all but four cases, including all cases who had undergone therapeutic aspiration. Nine patients reported relief of symp...