Radiological Diagnostics in Patients With Deep Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a benign, chronic, recurrent condition characterised by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Although most frequently localised at the ovarian level (17 - 44%), a proportion of 2-37% of patients are affected by deep endometriosis (DIE), which involves the muscular tunic propria of the abdomino-pelvic organs. The most commonly affected sites are the rectovaginal septum, utero-sacral ligaments, rectum and sigma, ureters, parameters, hypogastric nerves, bladder and pre-vesical peritoneum.

In recent years, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR) has been increasingly helpful in the diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis and is increasingly used in pre-operative planning together with transvaginal and/or transabdominal ultrasound. Recently, new techniques have been developed, such as Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE), whose gynaecological applications are currently in their infancy.

The study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and applicability of new MRI techniques in patients with deep endometriosis and candidates for surgical treatment.

In particular, the techniques that the investigators intend to investigate are: augmented reality, tractography, 3D-modelling, radiomics.

The use of these innovative methods, based on MRI techniques, may make it possible not only to plan an even more personalised treatment approach, selecting patients who could benefit from different treatments (such as presacral neurectomy, nerve root infiltration neurostimulation and the use of effective analgesics for neuropathic pain), but also to facilitate the localisation of endometriotic lesions during laparoscopic surgery, allowing the surgeon to assess their relationship with the main nerve and vascular structures of the pelvis and increasingly facilitating the nerve-sparing approach.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical and ultrasound diagnosis of deep endometriosis, with or without ovarian endometriosis, with indication for MRI for further diagnosis and subsequent candidate for laparoscopic surgical treatment of the pathology
• Age between 18 and 40 years
• Obtaining informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Previous abdominal surgery
• Personal history of malignancy (current or previous)
• Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Rectocolitis, Indeterminate Colitis), interstitial cystitis
• Personal history of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), active or previous
• Previous radiotherapy/chemotherapy
• Radiculopathy, herniated discs, spinal abnormalities and pathologies
• Laparotomic conversion during surgery