Awareness of MRI's central role in the diagnosis of endometriosis needs to grow, according to a statement issued by the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM) on 28 April.
“Endometriosis MRI is performed in patients with suspected deep pelvic endometriosis, and radiology plays an important role in its diagnosis as it is less accessible with other imaging techniques,” explained Dr. Rosa Viguer ahead of the course, to be held in Madrid on 29 and 30 May. The course is being sponsored by the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) and SERAM.
Endometriosis is a common benign gynecological pathology, estimated to affect 10% of women of childbearing age, and is due to the presence and activity of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, SERAM noted in a blog about the meeting.
Viguer noted that endometriosis is one of the most common causes of pelvic pain and female infertility. It primarily affects the internal female genital organs, but it can also affect the peritoneum and extraperitoneal structures, as well as neighboring organs. Deep pelvic endometriosis is defined as that located more than 5 mm below the peritoneal surface.
“Its clinical manifestations vary, depending on the activity of the foci that respond to hormonal stimuli and the extent of the affectation, and can become highly disabling and require complex surgical techniques for treatment," Viguer said.
MRI enables the diagnosis of the disease through tissue resolution and provides a map of its extent and thus can guide treatment planning due to its high anatomical resolution. It also enables follow-up, if indicated, and diagnosis in the case of malignancy (associated with endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma), Viguer noted.
