Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: Imaging Features and Laparoscopic Correlation

Abstract

Endometriosis usually affects reproductive-aged women and can be responsible for pain symptoms and infertility. Deep infiltrating endometriosis may involve the uterine ligaments (utero-sacral and/or round ligaments), the retrocervical area, the rectovaginal septum, the rectum, the vagina, and the bladder. The pre-operative assessment of such lesions is required to plan full surgical excision of the disease. Endometriotic lesions have some typical imaging patterns on transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging enabling pre-operative mapping of the disease. In this paper the authors report the imaging features of deep infiltrating endometriosis and the laparoscopic correlation of such lesions.