Transvaginal sonography and surgical findings in the diagnosis of endometriosis individuals: A cross-sectional study

Endometriosis is a challenging gynecological disease and a debilitating condition that profoundly affects the individual’s quality of life. Besides pathological confirmation, diagnostic laparoscopy has been internationally accepted as the standard method to identify the accurate mapping of endometriosis. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is the first non-invasive imaging modality to estimate the severity of endometriosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of TVS in affected women compared with surgical findings.

This retrospective cross-sectional study surveyed 170 women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) referred to the endometriosis part of the Avicenna Infertility Center, Tehran, Iran and they underwent TVS followed by laparoscopy. Recorded data of individuals under study in the medical database system were reviewed. Finally, the agreement rate was calculated for ultrasound reports and intraoperative (IO) findings regarding ovarian endometrium, ovarian adhesion, involvement of cul-de-sac, rectovaginal septum, and bowel and ureter.

170 women with DIE entered the study. The agreement of TVS and IO findings were 86.76% for left ovarian endometriosis and 70.86% for right ovarian endometriosis, 93.90% for left ovarian adhesion, and 88.90% for right ovarian adhesion, 88.90% for a cul-de-sac, and 84.82% for bowel nodules. The findings, based on a laparoscopic assessment of the pelvic floor, were completely compatible with ultrasound reports (100%).

TVS allows a preoperative evaluation in planning the surgical policy associated. TVS is beneficial for dedicated mapping of DIE; thus, an expert radiologist can aid the surgeon in preoperative evaluation and IO management.