US and MRI features of pelvic endometriosis

Giovanni Carbognin, G Carbognin, Carbognin G, A. Guarise, Alessandro Guarise, Guarise A, Minelli L, Liliana Minelli, L. Minelli, I. Vitale, Vitale I, R Malagó, R. Malag�, Malagó R, Giuseppe Zamboni, Zamboni G, G Zamboni, C Procacci, Procacci C, Carlo Procacci
Abdominal imaging · 2004 · vol. 29(5) , pp. 609–18 · doi:10.1007/s00261-003-0152-5 · PMID:15162229 · W2125226050
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This work describes the varied ultrasound and MRI appearances of pelvic endometriosis encountered in clinical practice.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 · read from full text ⓘ

This paper describes the “protean” ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances of endometrial foci in pelvic endometriosis, focusing on extraovarian forms rather than classic endometriomas. It discusses how US remains the first-line modality for women with pelvic pain, while MRI may be used when gynecologic pathology is not initially suspected, when US findings are equivocal, when the suspected abnormality extends beyond the sonographic field, or when further pelvic characterization is required, noting that many pelvic disorders (including endometriosis) show characteristic MRI features. A key limitation explicitly acknowledged is that radiologic features of extraovarian endometriosis had not been well documented previously, implying a descriptive coverage gap the authors aimed to address rather than providing comparative diagnostic performance data. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it reviews and characterizes US and MRI features of pelvic (including extraovarian) endometriotic lesions.

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Abstract

Endometriosis represents a common and important clinical problem of women of childbearing age. It is a disabling disorder manifesting with pain and infertility. The exact pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear, despite the different theories that have been formulated. The literature on endometriosis is extensive, but often in regard to classic endometrioma. It is surprising that, to the best of our knowledge, the many radiologic features of extraovarian endometriosis have not been well documented thus far. Although ultrasound (US) remains the imaging modality of choice in the radiologic evaluation of female patients with pelvic pain, the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of abdominal pain is expanding. In the young patient, MRI may be performed if a gynecologic disorder is not suspected at first, especially if US findings are equivocal or the abnormality extends beyond the field of view of the sonographic probe. Moreover, MRI is useful whenever further characterization of pelvic disorder is required. In fact, many causes of pelvic disorders and of endometriosis in particular demonstrate characteristic MRI findings. For these reasons, in this work we describe the protean US and MRI appearances of endometrial foci as encountered in daily experience.
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Abstract

Endometriosis represents a common and important clinical problem of women of childbearing age. It is a disabling disorder manifesting with pain and infertility. The exact pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear, despite the different theories that have been formulated. The literature on endometriosis is extensive, but often in regard to classic endometrioma. It is surprising that, to the best of our knowledge, the many radiologic features of extraovarian endometriosis have not been well documented thus far. Although ultrasound (US) remains the imaging modality of choice in the radiologic evaluation of female patients with pelvic pain, the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of abdominal pain is expanding. In the young patient, MRI may be performed if a gynecologic disorder is not suspected at first, especially if US findings are equivocal or the abnormality extends beyond the field of view of the sonographic probe. Moreover, MRI is useful whenever further characterization of pelvic disorder is required. In fact, many causes of pelvic disorders and of endometriosis in particular demonstrate characteristic MRI findings. For these reasons, in this work we describe the protean US and MRI appearances of endometrial foci as encountered in daily experience. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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US and MRI features of pelvic endometriosis. Abdom Imaging 29, 609–618 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-003-0152-5 Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-003-0152-5

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endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Ultrasonography

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