Clinical review of 40 cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome incidentally found by laparoscopy

Bae, Jei Jun; Lee, Dae Hyung; Koh, Min Whan

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics, severity of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS), pelvic adhesions and hematologic findings of incidentally founded FHCS in laparoscopy.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 40 patients incidentally found laparoscopically as FHCS at the department of obstetrics and gynecology of Yeungnam University Hospital from Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2006. Severity of FHCS and pelvic adhesions were classified and characteristics of patients, hematologic findings, past medical histories and symptoms after surgery were analysed.
RESULTS
The ages of the cases varied between 16 and 65 years old. Mean age of cases was 32.9 years. Indications of surgery were uterine myoma, benign adnexal mass, ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain and pelvic tuberculosis. From this study we can notice that FHCS can be found out most frequently in the patient with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Past medical history were pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, abdominal surgery and pelvic tuberculosis. 17 patients had been suffered from RUQ pain and 10 patients (58.8%) were in good health after adhesiolysis.
CONCLUSION
Laparoscopy is a confirmative tool in the diagnosis of FHCS. Direct observation of perihepatic space is the most definitive method of diagnosing this syndrome. From our study, we can find that FHCS can be diagnosed frequently in the patient with pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and pelvic tuberculosis. So, We recommend that investigating the perihepatic space during surgery is a good treatment especially in patients with PID, vague abdominal discomfort and pains.