Shining light in a dark landscape: MRI evaluation of unusual localization of endometriosis.

Shining light in a dark landscape: MRI evaluation of unusual localization of endometriosis. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2017 Jul-Aug;23(4):272-281 Authors: Gui B, Valentini AL, Ninivaggi V, Miccò M, Zecchi V, Grimaldi PP, Cambi F, Guido M, Bonomo L Abstract Endometriosis is a disease distinguished by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity with intralesional recurrent bleeding and resulting fibrosis. The most common locations for endometriosis are the ovaries, pelvic peritoneum, uterosacral ligaments, and torus uterinus. Typical symptoms are secondary dysmenorrhea and cyclic or chronic pelvic pain. Unusual sites of endometriosis may be associated with specific symptoms depending on the localization. Atypical pelvic endometriosis localizations can occur in the cervix, vagina, round ligaments, ureter, and nerves. Moreover, rare extrapelvic endometriosis implants can be localized in the upper abdomen, subphrenic fold, or in the abdominal wall. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a problem-solving tool among other imaging modalities. MRI is an advantageous technique, because of its multiplanarity, high contrast resolution, and lack of ionizing radiation. Our purpose is to remind the radiologists the possibility of atypical pelvic and extrapelvic endometriosis localizations and to illustrate the specific MRI findings. Endometriotic tissue with hemorrhagic content can be distinguished from adherences and fibrosis on...
Source: Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology : The Turkish Society of Radiology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Diagn Interv Radiol Source Type: research