MR imaging of endometriosis: Spectrum of disease

• Published in: Diagnostic and interventional imaging 2017-11, Vol.98 (11), p.751-767
• Main Authors: Bourgioti, C., Preza, O., Panourgias, E., Chatoupis, K., Antoniou, A., Nikolaidou, M.E., Moulopoulos, L.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal Wall - diagnostic imaging; Adnexa Uteri - diagnostic imaging; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Deep endometriosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Endometriosis - diagnostic imaging; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Index terms: Endometriosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Nervous System Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Pelvic endometriosis; Pelvis - diagnostic imaging; Peritoneum - diagnostic imaging; Thoracic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Urinary Bladder Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Uterus - diagnostic imaging; Viscera - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 2211-5684; 2211-5684
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diii.2017.05.009

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain and typically affects the ovaries, uterine ligaments, peritoneum, tubes, rectovaginal septum and bladder. It may, however, be found at various extrapelvic sites, including the perineum, liver, pancreas, lung or even the central nervous system, and in such cases, diagnosis may be quite challenging. Even though definitive diagnosis requires laparoscopy, preoperative identification of endometriosis is important not only to differentiate it from other diseases with similar clinical presentations but also, for accurate presurgical mapping, since complete removal of all endometriotic foci is critical for the effective treatment of the patient's symptoms. Ultrasound is performed initially, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used, particularly when sonographic findings are unclear, when deep pelvic endometriosis is suspected or when surgery is planned, as it provides better contrast resolution and a larger field of view compared to ultrasound. In this article, we will discuss distinctive MRI appearances of endometriotic foci and we will review common and uncommon locations of endometriosis within the body, in an attempt to familiarize radiologists with its wide spectrum of manifestations.