Nuck canal endometriosis: MR imaging findings and clinical features

Michele Gaeta, Fabio Minutoli, Achille Mileto, Sergio Racchiusa, Rocco Donato, Antonio Bottari, Alfredo Blandino
Abdominal imaging · 2010 · vol. 35(6) , pp. 737–741 · doi:10.1007/s00261-010-9607-7 · PMID:20217409 · W2056576270
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-10 ⓘ

This study reviewed MRI findings in patients with pelvic endometriosis, identifying Nuck canal endometriosis in eight right-sided lesions averaging 2.5 cm, presenting as cystic or solid patterns with hemorrhagic cysts.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 · read from full text ⓘ

This retrospective study examined MR imaging features of Nuck canal endometriosis (NCE) among 486 patients (out of 612 over 10 years) with laparoscopically and/or surgically proven pelvic endometriosis, with lesion characterization reviewed by two experienced urogenital radiologists in consensus. NCE was identified in eight patients, all with right-sided lesions averaging 2.5 cm, showing two MRI patterns: predominantly cystic lesions and predominantly solid lesions with small scattered cysts, with hemorrhagic hyperintense cysts on T1-weighted images in all cases. Lesions involved the inguinal canal in four patients and were outside it in four, with involvement of the rectus abdominis muscle in two patients and the common adductor tendon in two patients. The paper’s limitation is that NCE was rare in this cohort, limiting the ability to generalize beyond these few cases. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it specifically characterizes Nuck canal endometriosis using MR imaging findings and associated clinical features.

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Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the MR imaging findings of Nuck canal endometriosis (NCE).

Materials and methods

In a 10-year period, 486 out of 612 patients, with laparoscopically and/or surgically proven diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis, underwent MR imaging examination. The examinations were reviewed by two urogenital experienced radiologists working in consensus. Data analysis included: lesions location, size, morphological and signal intensity pattern, involvement of the adjacent muscles, and tendons.

Results

In 372 out of 486 patients an MRI diagnosis of endometriosis was made. NCE was found in eight patients. All the lesions were located on the right side. The mean size of the lesions was 2.5 cm (range 1.5–4.5 cm). Two patterns of NCE were found: type 1, prevalently cystic (n = 2); and type 2, prevalently solid with small scattered cysts within lesion (n = 6). In all the patients, hemorrhagic hyperintense cysts could be seen on T1-weighted images. In four patients, the lesions involved the inguinal canal, and in another four patients, the lesions were only outside the inguinal canal. Involvement of the abdominis rectus muscle was seen in two patients, and of the adductor common tendon in two patients.

Conclusion

MR imaging permits the diagnosis of NCE as well as the evaluation of exact extension of the disease. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Inguinal Canal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Adult Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Inguinal Canal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Middle Aged Retrospective Studies

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