Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Risk factors for the development of tubo-ovarian abscesses in women with
ovarian endometriosis: a retrospective matched case-control study
Version: 
1 
Date: 
15 Dec 2020
Reviewer's report:
Overall the topic is interesting and this study can add any new data to the present
medical literature, however the study has some methodological drawbacks:
1) The title is clear and accurately reflects the study contents
2) I would suggest a more extensive description of the link between PID/TOA
and endometriosis in the introduction section. Please add other studies on this
issue (doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2020.101811; PMID: 24050031)
3) Methods: did you include all consecutive patients? what was your
preoperative work-up and why patients were submitted to surgery (subfertilty,
control of pain, urinary or bowel stenosis due to DIE nodule?)? did you perform
in all cases surgery for tuboovarian abscess in patients with endometriosis or did
you prefer in some cases to postpone surgery giving them antibiotics as first line
therapy? did you add a selection bias adding only women submitted to surgery
and not all women treated also with medical therapy for abscess
4) sample size calculation lacks. Please provide it.
5) Results: data about coexistent DIE nodule and 
recent sonosalpingography
lack. Please discuss the role of hormonal therapy for endometriosis (doi:
10.1016/j.jmig.2011.04.008) and its possible impact on PID ethiology. Please
discuss and compare data with other studies (doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2020.101811;
PMID: 24050031)
6) The grammar and syntax must be corrected by native speaker
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Declaration of competing interests
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
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Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
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from apparent manipulation?
No