www.rfay.com.au

Dr Roger McMaster-Fay

Gynaecologist and Endoscopic Surgeon - Clinical Lecturer, Sydney University

An abstract from a paper presented to The 10th World Congress of Endometriosis, held in Melbourne in March 2008

TITLE: The clinical utility of CD10 immunohistolochemical staining in the diagnosis of endometriosis

INTRODUCTION: CD10 staining of endometrial stromal cells has been found to be useful in the detection of occult or inconspicuous endometriosis (1-3).

MATERIALS/METHOD: Setting: a large, single practitioner, gynaecological endoscopic surgical practice in Sydney’s west. Patients with symptoms indicative of endometriosis (i.e. dysmenorrhoea) had laparoscopies performed and biopsies of suspicious lesions taken. Prospectively for the past 12 months, when histology with H&E staining was equivocal or negative for endometriosis, then immunohistological staining for CD10 was performed. Some retrospective cases have also been studied and included. Approximately 50 patients will have been studied by this presentation.

RESULTS: More than 50% of patients with equivocal or negative on routine histology for endometriosis had positive staining for CD10.

CONCLUSIONS: CD10 is a useful adjunct in diagnosing endometriosis in a clinical setting. It is particularly useful in patients who are on hormone therapy, such as the oral contraceptive pill or Depo Provera, at the time of laparoscopy.

REFERENCES:

1. Sumathi VP, McCuggage WG. J Clin Pathol 2002; 55:391-2.
2. Groisman GM, Meir A. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2003; 127:1003-6.
3. Potlog-Nahari C et al. Fertil Stertil 2004; 82:86-92.