Fact or Myth? Endometriosis can be accurately diagnosed by simply looking at it

Myth!

The Endometriosis Research Center (ERC) writes:
“The only way a positive diagnosis of Endo can be made currently is via surgery, either a laparoscopy or the more invasive laparotomy, where biopsies are taken from suspected sites. It can also be visualized during surgery if the surgeon knows what to look for. Ultrasounds, MRIs, CT Scans and other diagnostic tests are not conclusive. The ERC does not support “medical diagnoses,” such as administering GnRH therapy prior to a surgical diagnosis.”

For more on the ERC, check out their ‘about us’ page at: http://www.endocenter.org/about.htm

The WomensSurgeryGroup.com writes:
“Very recent studies have conclusively shown that the visual diagnosis of endometriosis is accurate only 60% of the time (at best). This is very important. A patient may be diagnosed with “extensive” endometriosis when little or none is actually present. Alternatively, widespread disease might be missed or mistaken for another condition.

“Accurate diagnosis and staging is extremely important for the purpose of subsequent treatment and prognosis.”

For more info on the Women’s Surgery Group, see their ‘about us’ page at http://www.womenssurgerygroup.com/aboutus.asp page.