Ultrasound diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis: State of the art

Thierry Van den Bosch, T. Van den Bosch, Van den Bosch T, Dominique Van Schoubroeck, Van Schoubroeck D
Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology · 2018 · vol. 51 , pp. 16–24 · doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.01.013 · PMID:29506961 · W2790158216
review OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 132 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This review synthesizes the current understanding of ultrasound's capabilities in diagnosing endometriosis and adenomyosis, outlining established techniques and future directions.

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Abstract

Transvaginal ultrasonography has become the primary test in the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis and adenomyosis. A review of the literature on the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in pelvic endometriosis and adenomyosis, as well as a comparison with magnetic resonance imaging, will be presented. Criteria for diagnosis of an endometrioma according to robust prospective data together with guidelines as to adequate reporting of the location of deep infiltrating endometriosis will be given. The sonographic features of adenomyosis including the differential diagnosis between focal adenomyosis and a uterine fibroid are reviewed. The available data in the literature on ultrasound diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis and adenomyosis, their clinical relevance, and their limitations are discussed.

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Condition tags

endometriosisadenomyosis

MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Endometriosis Ultrasonography Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Diagnosis, Differential Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Magnetic Resonance Imaging Observational Studies as Topic Prospective Studies Retrospective Studies Sensitivity and Specificity Ultrasonography

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (72)

Cited by (50)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK