MODERN ASPECTS OF ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOMETRIOID HETEROTOPIAS OF PELVIC CAVITY ORGANS

Abstract

Diagnosis of endometrioid heterotopias of the pelvic cavity is often complicated, because at the initial stage there are no characteristic sonographic signs of this pathology. However, transvaginal ultrasound can be used as the main imaging method in the patients with suspected endometriosis. Due to a wide variety of forms and degrees of endometriosis, the similarity of clinical signs of other diseases, frequent asymptomatic course of the disease are objective difficulties in the correct and timely diagnosis of endometrioid heterotopias of the pelvic cavity. Ultrasonography can be used both to detect and to monitor the dynamics of endometriosis. Transvaginal sonography allows a qualitative detection of endometrioid heterotopias of the pelvis and with a high probability to reveal endometrioid cysts, hydrosalpinx, hematosalpinx, peritoneal endometriosis and is considered the best method of visualization of the endometrium. There were examined 57 patients with various forms of endometrioid heterotopias of the pelvic organs by transvaginal ultrasonography, which was performed on the 5th−9th day of the menstrual cycle. Adenomyosis of various degrees has been diagnosed, which should be understood as a disease consisting of ectopic location of endometrial glands and stroma as well as muscle changes. Due to the variety of forms and degrees of endometriosis, combination with clinical signs of other diseases, often asymptomatic course of the disease, which leads to severe damage to the reproductive system, there are objective difficulties in correct and timely diagnosis of endometrioid heterotopias and pelvic cavity organs. Modern visual methods of transvaginal ultrasonography are the key to correctly determining the stage and extent of endometriosis, which will directly affect the choice of treatment. Key words: endometriosis, heterotopia, ultrasound diagnostics, pelvic cavity.