TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnosis of bowel endometriosis
T2 - A review
AU - Ferrero, Simone
AU - Morotti, Matteo
AU - Menada, Mario Valenzano
AU - Venturini, Pier Luigi
AU - Biscaldi, Ennio
AU - Camerini, Giovanni
AU - Remorgida, Valentino
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Since the presence of intestinal endometriosis cannot be reliably established by physical examination or the evaluation of intestinal symptoms, imaging techniques are required for the diagnosis of bowel endometriosis. This review evaluates the techniques available for the diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis based on a search of the Medline database and Embase up to February 2010. Several studies have proved that radiological techniques (double contrast barium enema, magnetic resonance imaging, and multidetector computerized tomography enteroclysis) are able to accurately diagnose intestinal endometriosis. Magnetic resonance imaging has the advantage of determining the presence of deep endometriotic lesions in other pelvic locations. Rectal endoscopic ultrasonography can precisely determine the presence of bowel endometriosis but its use is limited by the availability of the equipment required to carry out the exam. Over the last five years, several studies have proved that transvaginal ultrasonography is accurate in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis; in addition, this exam is well tolerated by patients and is inexpensive. Therefore, transvaginal ultrasonography should be the first-line investigation in patients with suspected intestinal endometriosis.
AB - Since the presence of intestinal endometriosis cannot be reliably established by physical examination or the evaluation of intestinal symptoms, imaging techniques are required for the diagnosis of bowel endometriosis. This review evaluates the techniques available for the diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis based on a search of the Medline database and Embase up to February 2010. Several studies have proved that radiological techniques (double contrast barium enema, magnetic resonance imaging, and multidetector computerized tomography enteroclysis) are able to accurately diagnose intestinal endometriosis. Magnetic resonance imaging has the advantage of determining the presence of deep endometriotic lesions in other pelvic locations. Rectal endoscopic ultrasonography can precisely determine the presence of bowel endometriosis but its use is limited by the availability of the equipment required to carry out the exam. Over the last five years, several studies have proved that transvaginal ultrasonography is accurate in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis; in addition, this exam is well tolerated by patients and is inexpensive. Therefore, transvaginal ultrasonography should be the first-line investigation in patients with suspected intestinal endometriosis.
KW - Bowel endometriosis
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Double contrast barium enema
KW - Magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Multidetector computerized tomography enteroclysis
KW - Transvaginal ultrasonography
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77954019334&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/228402651000200204
DO - 10.1177/228402651000200204
M3 - Review article
SN - 2035-9969
VL - 2
SP - 71
EP - 78
JO - Journal of Endometriosis
JF - Journal of Endometriosis
IS - 2
ER -