Updated Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Assessment of Endometriosis

Abstract
Background: Endometriosis is a common disease, affecting 10% of all women of 'fertile' age. It is defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial glands and stroma outside the en-dometrium. It may vary from microscopic endometriotic implants to large cysts (endometriomas).
Aim of Study: The 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 Methods: The studied group included 30 women in childbearing period, all of them referred from Obstetrics and Gynecology Department with clinical suspicion of endometriosis. They were sent to MRI unit at Ain Shams University Hospitals, for evaluation of the disease. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy for MRI were calculated.
Results: In our study 16 out of 30 cases were confirmed to have endometriosis by using MRI. MRI finding then com-pared with the results of laparoscope which with done after MRI in all patients to confirm diagnosis. Then we conclude that MRI showed a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 86% with overall accuracy rate of 90%.
Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive, non-ionizing radiation method, offering high contrast resolution, which allows multiplanar evaluation of endome-triosis, thus facilitating a preoperative diagnosis of the location and extent of endometriotic lesions.