Rectal Water-contrast Transvaginal Ultrasonography Versus Sonovaginography for the Diagnosis of Posterior Deep Pelvic Endometriosis

Rectal Water-contrast Transvaginal Ultrasonography Versus Sonovaginography for the Diagnosis of Posterior Deep Pelvic Endometriosis

As the surgical treatment of posterior deep endometriosis may be challenging for surgeons and carry significant risks for patients, preoperative assessment of the location, characteristics and presence of nodules of posterior deep endometriosis is important in order to inform the patient about the various treatment possibilities and to allow adequate counseling regarding treatment strategy. The aim of this study is to investigate the accuracy of rectal water-contrast transvaginal ultrasonography (RWC-TVS), and sonovaginography (SVG) in patients with clinical suspicion of posterior deep endometriosis (DIE).

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinical presentation suggestive of the presence of posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• previous diagnosis of posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis by radiologic imaging (i.e. magnetic resonance, computed tomography)
• previous surgical diagnosis of posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis