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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Jan 1;143(1):53-66.
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005444. Epub 2023 Nov 9.

Medical Management of Ovarian Endometriomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Alexa Eberle  1 , Dong Bach Nguyen, Jessica Papillon Smith, Fady W Mansour, Srinivasan Krishnamurthy, Andrew Zakhari
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Medical Management of Ovarian Endometriomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Alexa Eberle et al. Obstet Gynecol. .

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the effect of medical management on the size of ovarian endometriomas.

Data source: Online databases were searched from inception to October 2022, including Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, PubMed, EBM Reviews-Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ClinicalTrials.gov , and Web of Science.

Methods of study selection: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we included all English-language, full-text articles that reported on change in endometrioma size (either diameter or volume) after medical interventions. Studies evaluating surgical interventions or postoperative recurrence were excluded. All screening and data extraction were performed independently by two authors. Risk of bias assessment was performed with either the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized controlled trials or a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies.

Tabulation, integration, and results: After removal of duplicates, 9,332 studies were screened, with 33 full-text articles deemed eligible for inclusion. In the meta-analysis, dienogest showed significant reduction in cyst diameter (reduction 1.32 cm, 95% CI, 0.91-1.73, eight studies, n=418 cysts) and volume (mean difference of log-transformed volume 1.35, 95% CI, 0.87-1.83, seven studies, n=282 cysts). Similarly, significant reductions were seen with the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) (1.06 cm, 95% CI, 0.59-1.53, nine studies, n=455), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists (1.17 cm, 95% CI, 0.42-1.92, four studies, n=128 cysts), norethindrone acetate (0.6 cm, 95% CI, 0.27-0.94, two studies, n=88 cysts), and danazol (1.95 cm, 95% CI, 1.18-2.73, two studies, n=34 cysts). Norethindrone acetate with aromatase inhibitor was also effective in reducing endometrioma volume (mean difference of log-transformed volume 1.47, 95% CI, 0.16-2.78, two studies, n=34 cysts).

Conclusion: Medical management with dienogest, OCPs, GnRH agonists, norethindrone acetate, norethindrone acetate with aromatase inhibitor, or danazol can reduce the size of ovarian endometriomas.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, CRD 42022363319.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial Disclosure Fady W. Mansour reports receiving payment from Pfizer for serving on their advisory board. Jessica Papillon Smith reports receiving payment from the Association des obstétriciens et gynécologies du Québec (AOGQ) for a lecture given at conference about hysterectomy. Andrew Zakhari reports receiving payment from the Academic Enrichment Fund - departmental fund to cover biostatistics fees. The other authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.

References

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