Comparing the effects of alcohol sclerotherapy with those of surgery on anti-Müllerian hormone and ovarian reserve after endometrioma treatment. A prospective multicenter pilot cohort study

Safety and Clinical Outcomes of Two-Session Catheter-Directed Sclerotherapy Using Ethanol for Endometrioma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and clinical outcome of two-session catheter-directed sclerotherapy (CDS) with 99% ethanol in patients with endometrioma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board with written informed consent obtained from all participants and was registered on clinicaltrial.gov. Consecutive patients with ovarian endometrioma between June 2020 and March 2023 were prospectively evaluated for two sessions of CDS. After successful transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncture of the endometrioma, the biopsy needle was exchanged for a 7- or 8.5-F catheter for aspiration and ethanol injection. The catheter was retained in situ for a second session the next day. Endometrioma volume was measured on ultrasound before and 1, 3, and 6 months after CDS, and volume reduction ratio (VRR) was calculated. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was measured before and 6 months after CDS to assess ovarian reserve.

RESULTS

Thirty-one endometriomas in 22 patients (mean age, 31.0 years; range, 19-44 years) were treated; 28 endometriomas were successfully treated with two-session CDS, while one session was incomplete in three endometriomas in three patients due to contrast medium leakage or pain. Minor procedure-related complications developed in four patients and resolved spontaneously before discharge on the same day of the second session. No recurrence was identified during follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up, the mean endometrioma diameter decreased from 5.5 ± 1.7 to 1.4 ± 0.9 cm (P < 0.001), and the serum AMH level was lowered without statistical significance (1.37 ± 0.96 ng/mL vs. 1.18 ± 0.92 ng/mL; P = 0.170). VRRs at 1, 3, and 6 months after CDS were 84.3 ± 13.7%, 94.3 ± 5.8%, and 96.4 ± 4.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Two-session CDS with 99% ethanol is safe, feasible, and effective for treating endometrioma with the ovarian function well preserved.

Efficacy of Ethanol Sclerotherapy Versus Laparoscopic Excision in the Treatment of Ovarian Endometrioma

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the recurrence rates of ovarian endometrioma, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and related complications between sclerotherapy and laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy in individuals aged 25 to 38.

Methods

Eighty-eight women participated in this retrospective, single-center study between January 2020 and February 2022. Patients received either laparoscopy or sclerotherapy, depending on the opinion of the pertinent physician. In this study, the following parameters were retrospectively analyzed in follow-up visits 2, 6 and 12 months after sclerotherapy and laparoscopy: dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia by visual analog scale, complications following the intervention, and serial pelvic sonograms for endometrioma cyst recurrence. Moreover, serum Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level before and 6 months after sclerotherapy/surgery were analyzed. The collected data were then analyzed using R software.

Results

The results demonstrate the efficiency of both sclerotherapy and laparoscopic techniques in reducing endometrioma-related dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia over a 12-month period. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of complications and recurrence rate between these two therapies, and both are equally beneficial. Also, the rate of AMH decline after laparoscopy was higher than sclerotherapy; however there was not a statistically significant change in serum level of AMH in laparoscopy compared to the sclerotherapy after 6 months.

Conclusion

Considering all the data, it appears that sclerotherapy, with its lower cost, shorter hospital stay, and quicker return to activities, can be a laparoscopic alternative to endometrioma cyst removal. More studies are required.

The Efficiency of Sclerotherapy for the Management of Endometrioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Fertility Outcomes

Background and Objectives: The most common sites of implantation of endometriotic tissue are the ovaries. Endometriomas are present in most cases of endometriosis (up to 45%). Although laparoscopic cystectomy is the standard of care in endometrioma, new strategies have been set up to minimize iatrogenic injuries to ovarian tissue. Sclerotherapy consists of injecting alcohol into the endometrioma to denature the amino acidic components of its pseudocapsule. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare clinical and pregnancy outcomes in surgery and sclerotherapy. Materials and Methods: Following the recommendations in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, we systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, Clinical-trials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases in January 2023, adopting the string "Endometriosis and sclerotherapy". We made no limitations on the country and year of publication. We included the studies containing Success Rate (SR), Recurrence Rate (RR), Pregnancy Rate (PR) before and after the procedure. We used comparative studies for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 29 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria, 7 retrospective observational studies and 22 prospective studies. Eight comparative studies were enrolled in meta-analysis. Patients were analyzed concerning the number of recurrences and pregnancies in surgery, and compared with sclerotherapy. Four studies showed SR > 80.0%, and only two had SR < 80.0%, of which one consisted of tetracycline instillation. Only 1 study had 100% PR, the other 14 reported PR > 30.0%, whereas six had PR < 30.0%, of which one showed 0.0% PR with ethanol injection at two-thirds of the cyst fluid volume. Meta-analysis highlighted a non-significant lower incidence of recurrence in the surgery group compared to the sclerotherapy group (p = 0.87). In parallel, the surgery group showed a non-significant better PR than the sclerotherapy group (p = 0.08). Conclusions: Despite sclerotherapy having a minor incidence of postoperative complications compared to surgery, the latter is associated with a lower RR and better PR. However, those data assert the importance of a targeted therapy according to preoperative conditions and reproductive potential.

Expectant, Medical, and Surgical Management of Ovarian Endometriomas

Management options for ovarian endometriomas include expectant management, medical treatment, surgical treatment, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or a combination of the above. The choice of management depends on many clinical parameters that should be taken into consideration, the first of which is the main presenting symptom. Most patients are today referred to medical therapy as a first option in the case of associated pain, and to IVF in the case of associated infertility. When both symptoms are present, usually surgery is the preferred approach. Recently, however, surgical excision of an ovarian endometrioma has been associated with a postoperative reduction in the ovarian reserve, and recent guidelines suggest that the clinician should caution the patient as to the possible damage to the ovarian reserve in the case of surgery. However, evidence has been published as to a possible detrimental effect of the ovarian endometrioma on the ovarian reserve even if expectant management is followed. In this review, the current evidence on the conservative management of ovarian endometriomas, with particular focus on the issue of the ovarian reserve, is evaluated, and the different surgical techniques for the treatment of ovarian endometriomas are discussed.

Impacts of endometrioma on ovarian aging from basic science to clinical management

Endometriosis is a common reproductive disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial implants outside of the uterus. It affects ~1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Endometriosis in the ovary, also known as endometrioma (OMA), is the most frequent implantation site and the leading cause of reproductive failure in affected women. Ovarian aging is one of the characteristic features of OMA, however its underlying mechanism yet to be determined. Accumulated evidence has shown that pelvic and local microenvironments in women with OMA are manifested, causing detrimental effects on ovarian development and functions. Whilst clinical associations of OMA with poor ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, and early menopause have been reported. Moreover, surgical ablation, fenestration, and cystectomy of OMA can further damage the normal ovarian reservoir, and trigger hyperactivation of primordial follicles, subsequently resulting in the undesired deterioration of ovarian functions. Nevertheless, there is no effective treatment to delay or restore ovarian aging. This review comprehensively summarised the pathogenesis and study hypothesis of ovarian aging caused by OMA in order to propose potential therapeutic targets and interventions for future studies.

Impact of Laparoscopic Sclerotherapy for Ovarian Endometriomas on Ovarian Reserve

STUDY

Objective: To evaluate the impact of laparoscopic sclerotherapy on the management of endometrioma during surgery for deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE).

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Tivoli-Ducos Clinic, Bordeaux.

PATIENTS

Sixty-nine patients underwent laparoscopic sclerotherapy for endometrioma during surgery for DIE.

INTERVENTIONS

Laparoscopic sclerotherapy with 95% ethanol solution and DIE surgery.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels before and at least 6 months after surgery, recurrences, and pregnancies. Mean AMH (ng/mL) levels were 3.4 (2.3) before surgery and 2 (1.7) after surgery (p <.001). Mean difference was 1.29 ng/mL. Preoperative AMH level was the only variable independently associated with an additive decrease in AMH. Mean (standard deviation) follow-up period was 17.5 months (4.6) (range 9-26 months); 18 of 44 patients (40.1%) with pregnancy intent conceived. Of 51 patients who underwent postoperative pelvic ultrasound, 6 (6 of 51, 11.8%) had a recurrence of endometrioma.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic sclerotherapy for endometrioma >40 mm during surgery for DIE sclerotherapy has a low impact on AMH, preserves fertility, and prevents recurrence.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Catheter-directed Ethanol Sclerotherapy and Its Impact on Ovarian Reserve in Patients with Ovarian Endometrioma at Risk of Decreased Ovarian Reserve: A Preliminary Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of catheter-directed ethanol sclerotherapy (CDS) and its effect on ovarian reserve in patients with endometrioma at risk of decreased ovarian reserve.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

We evaluated 18 patients with ovarian endometrioma measuring ≥3 cm and preprocedural serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels of <2 ng/mL.

INTERVENTIONS

An 8.5-F catheter was inserted either transabdominally or transvaginally into the endometrioma. After aspiration, sclerotherapy with 99% ethanol was performed, with a subsequent 20-minute ethanol retention.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Ultrasonography was performed preprocedurally and 6 months after CDS to evaluate any recurrence or changes in cyst size. Furthermore, serum AMH levels, cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) levels, and the visual analog scale scores for dysmenorrhea were obtained to analyze the ovarian reserve and treatment efficacy, preprocedurally and at 6 months after CDS. The mean cyst size on ultrasonography and serum CA-125 levels decreased 6 months after CDS (p <.001 and p = .001, respectively). All patients reported a decreased visual analog scale score for dysmenorrhea (p <.001). However, the difference in serum AMH levels before and after CDS was statistically insignificant (p = .875).

CONCLUSION

CDS was efficacious in reducing pain and serum CA-125 levels in patients with low AMH levels without adversely affecting their ovarian reserve.