July 10, 2009

MRI Accurately Depicts Endometriosis

Radiologists may correctly diagnose deep endometriosis, a disease affecting about 5 million American women, and its severity through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to surgery, aiding doctors in distinguishing the most appropriate procedure.

Endometriosis is a painful disease which develops when endometrium, or uterine tissue, grows outside the uterus. The tissue can attach to other organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels and bladder. There are two types of the disease -- superficial and sub peritoneal, and deciphering between the two through MRI prior to surgery is crucial for surgeons.

Researchers studied 41 women (aged 20 to 46 years) suspected to have endometriosis. Each woman had an MRI prior to surgery, and the MRI correctly diagnosed 26 of 27 cases of sub peritoneal, or deep endometriosis, along with specific locations and levels of severity. The test also identified superficial cases, allowing for less invasive measures.

SOURCE: Radiology, July 2009