Imaging in Endometrioma/Endometriosis 

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glandular tissue outside of the uterus. In contrast, adenomyosis is endometrial tissue within the myometrium. Adenomyosis once was termed endometriosis interna but currently is recognized as a distinct clinical entity.

Endovaginal sonogram of endometrioma is shown in the image below.

MRI of endometrioma is shown in the image below.

Theories of pathogenesis

Two main theories exist for the pathogenesis of endometriosis. One theory is that endometrial tissue is spread by retrograde menstruation or by vascular and/or lymphatic spread. The second theory holds that the serosal epithelium of the peritoneum undergoes metaplastic differentiation into endometrium-like tissue.

The theory that retrograde menstruation causes endometriosis is supported by the analysis of peritoneal fluid in women.^[1] As many as 90% of women have blood in the peritoneal fluid during the perimenstrual period. In addition, endometrial cells have been found in the peritoneal fluid. The pattern of endometriosis is consistent with retrograde menstruation and is most common in the ovary, followed by the other dependent areas of the pelvis. Vascular and/or lymphatic spread is supported by noting the occasional distal (extraperitoneal) sites of endometriosis, including the lungs and central nervous system (CNS).^[2] In addition, teenage girls with obstructive uterine or vaginal anomalies show retrograde menstrual bleeding, and endometriosis is common in these patients.

Metaplasia is the conversion of peritoneal epithelium into endometrial epithelium. The theory that metaplasia causes endometriosis is supported by the fact that endometrial cells and peritoneal cells derive from the same celomic wall epithelium.^[2] This theory also is supported by development of endometriosis in women who lack normal endometrial tissue such as those with Turner syndrome or uterine agenesis. In addition, rare cases of endometriosis have been found in the prostatic utricle of men.

Clinical manifestations

Clinical presentations of endometriosis often consist of chronic pelvic pain and infertility; however, many patients are asymptomatic.^[3] The earliest visible manifestations of endometriosis are whitish peritoneal plaques. The foci of endometrial tissue are small subserosal nodules with a brown appearance on gross examination; termed powder burns, they are seen on laparoscopic examination. Over time, the repeated hemorrhaging can produce extensive fibrosis surrounding the endometrial tissue, which can result in adhesions to adnexal structures or to bowel and can obliterate the pelvic cul-de-sac.

When the ovaries are involved, they can become enlarged with cystic, blood-filled spaces that, on gross examination, are termed chocolate cysts, or endometriomas. Endometriomas can become large and multilocular. The endometrial-cell lining can become obliterated over time, making the pathologic distinction between an endometrioma and a hemorrhagic cyst difficult in some cases.^[2] The wall of the endometrioma becomes thickened and fibrotic, with hemosiderin deposition.^[4] The high concentration of iron in the cysts causes the distinctive appearance on MRI^[5] and has been proposed to relate to the induction of carcinomas in endometriosis that form in some patients.^[4]

Staging

Staging of endometriosis depends on the degree and complications of endometrial implants. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification of endometriosis categorizes endometrial implants, such as location and the depth of penetration, as well as the degree of cul-de-sac obliteration and adhesions.

The findings on laparoscopy can be used to classify patients into 4 classes, from mild (stage I) to severe (stage IV).^[6] The staging correlates with the likelihood of achieving pregnancy but not with the severity of pain.

Preferred examination

The initial workup begins with a history and physical examination. History and findings can be nonspecific, but occasionally, tender, nodular masses can be palpated on pelvic examination, representing fibrotic implants in the cul-de-sac. Elevations of CA-125 may be caused by endometriosis.^[7]

Usually, the initial imaging examination for suspected endometriosis is pelvic ultrasound (US) scanning. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides superior anatomic detail and better defines abnormalities found using ultrasonography.

Laparoscopy is the standard modality for the diagnosis of endometriosis.^[8] It is the most sensitive means of examination because only laparoscopy can identify superficial peritoneal implants; however, laparoscopy is an invasive surgical procedure. Laparoscopy can be incorporated into treatments in which endometriomas are cauterized or removed and adhesions are lysed.

Limitation of techniques

Plain film radiography, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and barium studies are not sensitive for the diagnosis of endometriosis. Moreover, the appearance of implants and endometriomas is nonspecific.

US scanning and MRI are not sensitive for superficial lesions. US scanning is not sensitive for the detection of large implants.

Laparoscopy is limited because it is invasive. In addition, laparoscopy can be limited by the presence of dense pelvic adhesions, resulting in limited access to the cul-de-sac and adnexa.

Patient education

For patient education information, see the Women's Health Center, as well as Female Sexual Problems and Endometriosis.

Plain film radiographs are not indicated in the radiologic workup of endometriosis. No specific findings are found on plain films.^[9] The findings on contrast studies (a barium enema and an intravenous [IV] urogram) are nonspecific.

Uncommonly, women with rectal pain or bleeding from endometriosis involvement of the bowel may undergo a barium enema examination. A tethered submucosal mass that is centered at the anterior midrectum—representing cul-de-sac implants involving the rectal wall—is typical.^[9]

An IV urogram in patients with endometriosis may show ureteral obstruction at or below the pelvic brim.^[10] This obstruction may be from an endometriosis implant invasion into the ureter or from a mass effect from endometrioma.

The appearance of endometriosis on a barium enema contrast study can be mimicked by rectal carcinoma or serosal metastases.

CT scanning typically is not performed in the radiologic evaluation of endometriosis because the appearance of endometriosis and endometriomas on CT scans is nonspecific. If CT scanning is performed, endometriomas appear as cystic masses. A slightly high attenuation crescent lying dependently within the cyst has been described as a more specific feature.^[11]

Complications of endometriosis, such as bowel obstruction, are evident on CT scans. Ureteral obstruction may cause hydronephrosis.

The appearance of endometriomas and endometriosis on CT scans is easily mimicked by pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as by benign or malignant ovarian tumors. CT scanning should not be relied on for the diagnosis.

The appearance of endometriomas on MRIs is variable and depends on the concentration of iron and protein in the fluid, products of blood degradation.^{[10, 12, 13]} Most endometriomas have the gross appearance of chocolate cysts, representing highly concentrated blood products. MRI demonstrates these endometriomas as cystic masses with very high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and very low signal intensity on T2-weighted images (see the images below).

This low signal intensity on the T2-weighted images is termed shading and occasionally occurs in a gradient from higher to lower signal intensity. This pattern of signal intensities results from the high iron concentration in the endometrioma and is rarely seen in other masses of any type.^{[5, 14]}

Multiple high signal lesions, usually in the ovaries, on T1-weighted images, also are highly suggestive of endometriosis.

Peritoneal implants initially are small serosal lesions and usually escape detection. Larger, fibrotic implants of endometriosis are seen on MRI as spiculated nodules of very low signal intensity on T2-weighted images.^{[15, 16]} These commonly occur in the cul-de-sac; they less commonly appear on the bladder dome, rectum, or umbilicus or in pelvic surgical scars.^[15] Fat-saturated T1-weighted images are helpful to identify the punctate high signal intensity from hemorrhage in these lesions.^{[17, 18]}

Cul-de-sac implants result in adhesions that constrict it.^[19] Dilated fallopian tubes occasionally are seen on MRI in patients with endometriosis; these demonstrate high signal intensity on T1-weighted images, indicative of bloody fluid.^{[10, 20]}

MRI can also demonstrate the complications of endometriosis, such as bowel implants and ureteral obstruction.^[10] Since longer imaging times are required for MRI, antiperistaltic medication can improve visualization of the bowel.

Degree of confidence

In one study, MRI showed a sensitivity of 90-92% and a specificity of 91-98% for the diagnosis of endometrioma in patients with adnexal masses.^[12] Thus, MRI is an accurate technique in distinguishing endometriomas from other masses. MRI is more accurate in distinguishing benign from malignant ovarian masses than ultrasonography.^[21]

MRI is not sensitive for superficial implants; therefore, the modality should not be relied on to rule out endometriosis.

False positives and negatives

False-negative examinations usually are seen in patients with only peritoneal implants. These are generally too small to resolve with MRI or any noninvasive imaging technique.

False-positive results can occur because cystic neoplasms or functional cysts can mimic endometriomas. Most hemorrhagic cysts and neoplasms do not show the degree of T1 and T2 shortening shown by endometriomas because the concentration of iron even in whole blood is much less than that in endometriomas.^{[5, 14, 22]}

Patients with suspected endometriosis referred for US scanning evaluation should receive a transvaginal study, because this is more sensitive for smaller endometriomas.^{[23, 24, 25, 26]} The kidneys should be examined for hydronephrosis.

The typical US scan finding in endometriosis is a cystic mass with diffuse, low-level echoes.^{[27, 25]} See the images below. Punctate echogenicities in the wall may be present and increases diagnostic confidence.^[28]

However, endometriomas can vary in appearance. For example, they may appear cystic (simple or complex), or they may resemble a solid mass.^{[28, 20]} See the image below. Punctate echogenicities in the wall of endometriomas are less commonly seen but add specificity to the diagnosis.^[9]

Small implants typically are not seen with US scanning.^[7]

Doppler waveform analysis is not helpful in differentiating endometriomas from other masses. Low-resistance waveforms resembling malignancy are encountered in endometriomas.^{[26, 21]} See the image below.

Degree of confidence

US scanning is not as specific as MRI in the evaluation of endometriosis. The appearance of a cystic mass with homogeneous, diffuse, low-level echoes is highly suggestive of an endometrioma. However, other appearances are much less specific and can be mimicked by hemorrhagic cysts, tubo-ovarian abscesses, and cystadenomas.^[28] US scan characteristics of endometriomas overlap with other pathologies, such as ovarian neoplasms. Endometriomas are commonly bilateral or multicystic, furthering their resemblance to malignancies.^[29]

Since small endometrial implants are not seen reliably on US scans, US scanning is not a sensitive technique to diagnose endometriosis.

Guerriero and colleagues found that the sensitivity and specificity of endovaginal ultrasonography were 83% and 89%, respectively, when the technique was used to differentiate endometriomas from other ovarian cysts.^[27]

Low-resistance Doppler waveforms resembling malignancy are often encountered in endometriomas.^[21]

False positives and negatives

False-positive findings may occur because hemorrhagic cysts, tubo-ovarian abscess, and cystadenomas may resemble endometriomas.^{[21, 26, 29]}

False-negative findings can occur because endometrial implants are too small to visualize on US scans. In addition, endometriomas without the typical appearance described above may be misdiagnosed as hemorrhagic cysts, tubo-ovarian abscesses, and cystadenomas.^[29]