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MRI in the Diagnosis of Endometriosis and Related Diseases

  • Aki Kido (Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital) ;
  • Yuki Himoto (Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital) ;
  • Yusaku Moribata (Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital) ;
  • Yasuhisa Kurata (Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital) ;
  • Yuji Nakamoto (Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital)
  • Received : 2021.05.19
  • Accepted : 2021.11.11
  • Published : 2022.04.01

Abstract

Endometriosis, a common chronic inflammatory disease in female of reproductive age, is closely related to patient symptoms and fertility. Because of its high contrast resolution and objectivity, MRI can contribute to the early and accurate diagnosis of ovarian endometriotic cysts and deeply infiltrating endometriosis without the need for any invasive procedure or radiation exposure. The ovaries, which are the most frequent site of endometriosis, can be afflicted by multiple related conditions and diseases. For the diagnosis of deeply infiltrating endometriosis and secondary adhesions among pelvic organs, fibrosis around the ectopic endometrial gland is usually found as a T2 hypointense lesion. This review summarizes the MRI findings obtained for ovarian endometriotic cysts and their physiologically and pathologically related conditions. This article also includes the key imaging findings of deeply infiltrating endometriosis.

Keywords

References

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