The role of MRI in the diagnosis of endometriosis

AimThe aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of endometriosis especially in non-apparent types as tubal and cul de sac endometriosis.Patients and methodsMRI obtained between January 2007 and June 2009 for 34 premenopausal women complaining of dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia and infertility and the diagnosis of endometriosis were included in the differential diagnosis. T1 weighted fat saturated and T2 weighted images were done for every patient, we evaluated the MR images for the presence of T1 bright signal suggesting endometriosis. Transvaginal US was performed in two perpendicular planes for the detection of focal areas with ill defined borders or abnormal echo texture. Suspicious cases which become negative by laparoscopy were excluded from the study.ResultsMRI diagnosed endometriosis in the uterus in 18 patients, ovarian endometriosis in 13 patients, tubal in two patients, and cul de sac in one patient.ConclusionIt is concluded that MRI is superior in the diagnosis of endometriosis than transvaginal ultrasound.