Reproducibility of #Enzian classification by transvaginal ultrasound and its correlation with symptoms

Endometriosis and Infertility: Gynecological Examination Practical Guide

Endometriosis, a prevalent gynecological condition affecting 10-15% of reproductive-age women, involves the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. This chronic inflammatory disease can significantly impact fertility by disrupting ovulation, tubal transport, and implantation. Clinical manifestations vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia. Accurate diagnosis remains challenging, often requiring a combination of patient history, clinical examination, and imaging studies. This paper will discuss the clinical approach to endometriosis during a first-line gynecological appointment, focusing on patient history, including detailed assessment of menstrual, pelvic, and bowel symptoms, and clinical examination; thorough gynecological examination, including abdominal and pelvic palpation, speculum examination, and bimanual examination; imaging evaluation (particularly of the role of ultrasound in identifying and characterizing endometriotic lesions, including the use of the #ENZIAN classification for deep infiltrating endometriosis and evaluation of fertility impact); and discussion of the Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI) as a tool for assessing fertility potential. This comprehensive approach aims to guide clinicians in identifying and managing endometriosis effectively, improving patient outcomes and optimizing fertility management strategies. Methods: A literature search for suitable articles published from January 1974 to 2024 in the English language was performed using PubMed. Results: Endometriosis is associated with infertility rates ranging from 20% to 68%, with mechanisms including pelvic adhesions, chronic inflammation, and immune dysregulation. The revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) classification and #ENZIAN classification were identified as essential tools for staging and characterizing the disease. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for deep infiltrating endometriosis, with a sensitivity of up to 96% and specificity of 99%. EFI emerged as a valuable predictor of natural conception post-surgery. Additionally, the review underscores the frequent co-occurrence of adenomyosis in women with endometriosis, which may further compromise fertility. Despite advancements in imaging techniques and classification systems, the variability in symptom presentation and disease progression continues to challenge early diagnosis and effective management. Conclusions: Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological condition affecting women of reproductive age and is associated with infertility. This paper describes the diagnostic approach to endometriosis during a first-line gynecological appointment, focusing on clinical history, physical examination, and the role of imaging, particularly ultrasound, in identifying and characterizing endometriosis lesions. The adoption of standardized classification systems such as #ENZIAN and EFI enhances disease staging and fertility prognosis, allowing for tailored treatment strategies. Despite improvements in non-invasive diagnostic methods, challenges persist in correlating symptom severity with disease extent, necessitating continued research into biomarkers and novel imaging techniques. Additionally, the frequent coexistence of adenomyosis further complicates fertility outcomes, underscoring the need for comprehensive management strategies. Further research is needed to enhance early detection strategies and optimize fertility preservation techniques for affected women.

Impact of deep or ovarian endometriosis on pelvic pain and quality of life: prospective cross-sectional ultrasound study

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether premenopausal women diagnosed with deep or ovarian endometriosis on transvaginal sonography (TVS) were more likely to suffer from dyspareunia and pelvic pain symptoms, and have a lower quality of life, compared to women without sonographically diagnosed deep or ovarian endometriosis.

METHODS

This was a prospective, cross-sectional study carried out between February 2019 and October 2020 at the general gynecology clinic at University College London Hospital, London, UK. All premenopausal women aged 18-50 years, who were examined consecutively by a single experienced examiner and underwent a detailed TVS scan, were eligible for inclusion. Pregnant women and those who had received a previous diagnosis of endometriosis or who had experienced a hysterectomy or unilateral/bilateral oophorectomy were excluded. Sonographic findings consistent with deep or ovarian endometriosis were noted. All women completed the British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy pelvic pain questionnaire. The primary outcome was to determine whether women with sonographic evidence of endometriosis were more likely to experience moderate-to-severe levels of dyspareunia (score of ≥ 4 on an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS)). Secondary outcomes included assessing moderate-to-severe levels of other pelvic pain symptoms (NRS score of ≥ 4), bowel symptoms (score of ≥ 2 on a 5-point Likert scale) and quality of life, which was measured using the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D) questionnaire. The number of women with pain scores ≥ 4 and bowel scores ≥ 2, as well as the mean EQ-5D scores, were compared between the group with and that without sonographic evidence of endometriosis using logistic regression analysis, and multivariable analysis was used to adjust for demographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS

A total of 514 women were included in the final study population, of whom 146 (28.4%) were diagnosed with deep or ovarian endometriosis on TVS. On multivariable analysis, the presence of moderate-to-severe dyspareunia was not found to be associated with endometriosis. Moderate-to-severe dyspareunia was significantly associated with lower age (odds ratio (OR), 0.70 (95% CI, 0.56-0.89); P = 0.003) and a history of migraine (OR, 3.52 (95% CI, 1.42-8.77); P = 0.007), and it occurred significantly less frequently in women with non-endometriotic ovarian cysts (OR, 0.47 (95% CI, 0.28-0.78); P = 0.003). There was also a trend towards a positive association between anxiety/depression and moderate-to-severe dyspareunia (OR, 1.94 (95% CI, 0.93-4.03); P = 0.08). Following multivariable analysis, the only symptoms that were significantly more common in women with endometriosis compared to those without were menstrual dyschezia (OR, 2.44 (95% CI, 1.59-3.78); P < 0.001) and difficulty emptying the bladder (OR, 2.56 (95% CI, 1.52-4.31); P < 0.001). Although not reaching statistical significance on multivariable analysis, dysmenorrhea (OR, 1.72 (95% CI, 0.92-3.20); P = 0.09) and lower EQ-5D score (mean ± SD, 0.67 ± 0.33 vs 0.72 ± 0.28; P = 0.06) also occurred more frequently in women with sonographic evidence of endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of pelvic pain symptoms did not differ significantly between women with and those without sonographic evidence of endometriosis, indicating that endometriosis may not always be the source of pelvic pain, even if present. This highlights the need to rule out other causes of pain in symptomatic endometriosis patients before considering surgical procedures, and to provide appropriate patient counseling. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics

Background/Objectives: Endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) share some epidemiological, clinical and pathogenetic features. A differential diagnosis between pelvic endometriosis and IBD may be challenging, even for expert clinicians. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the currently available data regarding the relationship between endometriosis and IBD and their possible association. Methods: The PubMed and Scopus database were considered, by searching the following terms: "Crohn's Disease", "Ulcerative Colitis", "Endometriosis", "Adenomyosis", and "Inflammatory Bowel Disease", individually or combined. Full-text papers published in English with no date restriction were considered. Results: Few studies have researched the possible association between endometriosis and IBD. Both conditions are characterized by chronic recurrent symptoms, which may be shared (abdominal pain, fatigue, infertility, menstrual irregularities, diarrhea, constipation). Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) can cause bowel symptoms. In a large Danish study, a 50% increased risk of IBD was observed in women with endometriosis. A missed diagnosis of endometriosis and an increased risk of endometriosis has been reported in IBD. Current evidence does not support an association between endometriosis and IBD characteristics. However, IBD may be associated with DIE, characterized by pelvic symptoms (dyschezia, dyspareunia). Preliminary observations suggest an increased IBD risk in patients with endometriosis treated with hormonal therapy. Conclusions: Current findings suggest that a careful search is needed for concomitant endometriosis in subgroups of patients with IBD showing compatible symptoms and vice versa. A multidisciplinary approach including dedicated gastroenterologists and gynecologists is required for a proper search for IBD and endometriosis in subgroups of patients. This approach may avoid diagnostic delays or overtreatments for these conditions.