Keywords:
Education, Ultrasound, MR, Pelvis, Genital / Reproductive system female, Education and training, Peritoneum
Authors:
J. Salvador García, T. Ripollés-González, A. T. Vizarreta, R. Vila, J. J. Delgado Moraleda, M. J. Martinez; Valencia/ES
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-1464
Aims and objectives
Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma at extrauterine sites throughout the pelvis and beyond. Lesions are typically located in the pelvis but can occur at multiple sites including the bowel,
diaphragm,
and pleural cavity.
While endometriosis is a common and nonmalignant process,
ectopic endometrial tissue and resultant inflammation can cause dysmenorrhea,
dyspareunia,
chronic pain,
and infertility.
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent,
benign,
inflammatory disease that affects women during their premenarcheal,
reproductive,
and postmenopausal hormonal stages.
Endometriotic lesions in the pelvis can be categorized as superficial peritoneal,
ovarian,
and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Rectovaginal and bowel endometriosis are forms of DIE,
which is defined as an endometriotic lesion located at least 5 mm beneath the peritoneal surface.
Therefore,
DIE of the bowel invades at least the level of the bowel muscularis.
Endometriotic foci located on the bowel serosa that do not meet these criteria are defined as peritoneal endometriosis and not as deep infiltrating bowel endometriosis.
The bowel is the most common site of extragenital endometriosis.
Bowel endometriosis occurs in 12%–37% of women with DIE.
The purpose of this study is to review the findings of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) on abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound,
describing the image patterns and their correlation with MRI imaging.