Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Pelvis, Genital / Reproductive system female, Colon, MR, Diagnostic procedure, Obstetrics
Authors:
C. Sofia1, M. A. Marino1, L. Di Grazia2, N. Boscolo Bariga2, G. Di Salvo2, A. Blandino3, A. Tregnaghi2; 1MESSINA, AT/IT, 2Chioggia/IT, 3MESSINA/IT
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-0988
Background
- Endometriosis is a chronic disorder characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue
- Usually,
it affects women during their reproductive years
- Endometriosis is a multi-factorial disease with an unclear
aetiology and pathogenesis
- It is distinguished in superficial and deep endometriosis
- Deep endometriosis is defined as the presence of an infiltrating lesion into an organ wall or the subperitoneal space for more than 5 mm in depth
- The posterior pelvic compartment is the most frequent localization of deep endometriosis
- Rectosigmoid colon is the most common bowel tract involved in the disease
- Patients can be asymptomatic or complain dyschezia, rectorrhagia,
catamenial diarrhea,
constipation and painful daefecation
- Non-invasive diagnosis of rectosigmoid deep endometriosis is fundamental for a proper management of patients ,
especially when surgery is not strictly necessary and endocrine therapies can be offered
- The main advantage of MRI is the possibility to detect deep endometriosis due to its intrinsic high spatial resolution and tissue characterization with a single examination,
obtaining an overview of the pelvic structures without the use of ionizing radiations