Endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis Abstract. Endometriosis, which is the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the endometrium, represents one of the most common gynecological diseases. Given the variability of the symptoms depending on the exact localization of the disease, it is not uncommon for a patient to be diagnosed only after approximately 10 years of suffering. Localizations of the disease can include the typical endometrioma of the ovaries and in particular the lesser pelvis (e. g., fallopian tubes, uterine ligaments). It is then termed "deep pelvic endometriosis" and may be the reason for scarring, chronic pelvic pain and infertility. MRI has become increasingly popular in assessing the extent of the disease, due to its increasing availability and excellent soft tissue contrast. Recently, European guidelines have been published to better standardize technical MRI parameters and reporting, in addition to several scoring systems (e. g., the ENZIAN score), which have been established in the past. This allows for a precise localization of the disease and may guide surgical management in advanced cases. Other therapeutic options -depending on the severity of the symptoms- include pain medication or hormonal treatments. In the case of adenomyosis, the embolization of the uterine arteries as a minimally invasive approach has demonstrated excellent results.