Computed tomographic colonography vs rectal water- contrast transvaginal sonography in diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis: a pilot study.

To compare the performance of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) and rectal water-contrast transvaginal sonography (RWC-TVS) in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis, and compare precision in estimating the length of the rectosigmoid nodules and the distance between the nodules and the anal verge. This prospective study included 70 patients of reproductive age with clinical suspicion of rectosigmoid endometriosis. Patients underwent RWC-TVS and CTC before laparoscopic excision of endometriotic nodules. The findings of RWC-TVS and CTC were compared with surgical and histological results. Of the 70 patients included in the study, 40 (57.1%) had rectosigmoid endometriosis. CTC and RWC-TVS had similar accuracy in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis (P = 0.508) and similar precision in estimating the length of the endometriotic nodules (P = 0.077). CTC was more precise than RWC-TVS in estimating the distance between the rectosigmoid nodule and the anal verge (P < 0.001). The intensity of pain experienced during CTC was higher than that perceived during RWC-TVS (P < 0.001); however, intestinal distension for CTC was well-tolerated in all patients without significant adverse effects. RWC-TVS and CTC have similar accuracy in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis and similar precision in estimating the size of the nodules; however, CTC is more precise than RWC-TVS in estimating the distance between the nodules and the anal verge, yet patients tolerate RWC-TVS better than CTC. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ferrero S ，Biscaldi E ，Vellone VG ，Venturini PL ，Leone Roberti Maggiore U ... -  《-》

Magnetic resonance enema vs rectal water-contrast transvaginal sonography in diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis.

To compare the accuracy of magnetic resonance enema (MR-e) and rectal water-contrast transvaginal sonography (RWC-TVS) in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis. This prospective study included 286 patients of reproductive age with clinical suspicion of rectosigmoid endometriosis. Patients underwent MR-e and RWC-TVS before laparoscopic excision of endometriotic lesions. The findings of MR-e and RWC-TVS were compared with surgical and histological results. Of the 286 patients included in the study, 151 (52.8%) had rectosigmoid endometriosis. MR-e and RWC-TVS had similar accuracy in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis (P = 0.063). In the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis with MR-e, the sensitivity was 95.4% (95% CI, 90.7-99.1%), specificity was 97.8% (95% CI, 93.6-99.5%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 98.0% (95% CI, 94.1-99.6%), negative predictive value (NPV) was 95.0% (95% CI, 89.9-97.9%), positive likelihood ratio (LR+) was 42.91 (95% CI, 14.01-131.46) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) was 0.05 (95% CI, 0.02-0.10). For diagnosis with RWC-TVS, sensitivity was 92.7% (95% CI, 87.3-96.3%), specificity was 97.0% (95% CI, 92.6-99.2%), PPV was 97.2% (95% CI, 93.0-99.2%), NPV was 92.3% (95% CI, 86.6-96.1%), LR+ was 31.29 (95% CI, 11.90-82.25) and LR- was 0.08 (95% CI, 0.04-0.13). MR-e and RWC-TVS underestimated the size of the endometriotic nodules; for both imaging techniques the underestimation was greater for nodules with a diameter ≥ 30 mm. There was no significant difference in the mean intensity of pain experienced by the patients during the two examinations. RWC-TVS should be the first-line investigation in patients with clinical suspicion of rectosigmoid endometriosis and physicians should be trained in performing this examination. Considering that MR-e is more expensive than RWC-TVS, it should be used only when the findings of RWC-TVS are unclear. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Leone Roberti Maggiore U ，Biscaldi E ，Vellone VG ，Venturini PL ，Ferrero S ... -  《-》

A Prospective Study Comparing Three-Dimensional Rectal Water Contrast Transvaginal Ultrasonography and Computed Tomographic Colonography in the Diagnosis of Rectosigmoid Endometriosis.

Barra F ，Biscaldi E ，Scala C ，Laganà AS ，Vellone VG ，Stabilini C ，Ghezzi F ，Ferrero S ... -  《Diagnostics》

Transvaginal sonography with vs without bowel preparation in diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis: prospective study.

The primary aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography (TVS) with vs without bowel preparation (BP) in detecting the presence of rectosigmoid endometriosis. Secondary objectives were to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the two techniques in estimating infiltration of the submucosa, length of the largest rectosigmoid nodules, distance of the nodules from the anal verge and presence of multifocal disease. This was a prospective study of patients with symptoms of pelvic pain for more than 6 months and/or suspicion of endometriosis referred to our institution between October 2016 and April 2018. Participants underwent a first TVS without BP followed by TVS with BP within a time interval of 1 week to 3 months. The examinations were performed independently and blindly by two sonographers. Only patients who underwent laparoscopy within the 6 months following the second ultrasound examination were included. Ultrasound results using the two techniques were compared with surgical and histological findings. Of the 262 patients included in the study, 118 had rectosigmoid endometriosis confirmed at surgery. There was no significant difference in accuracy between TVS with and that without BP in diagnosing the presence of rectosigmoid endometriosis (93.5% vs 92.3%; P = 0.453). No significant difference was observed in accuracy between TVS with and that without BP in diagnosing submucosal infiltration (88.8% vs 84.6%; P = 0.238) and multifocal disease (97.2% vs 95.2%; P = 0.727) in patients diagnosed sonographically with rectosigmoid endometriosis. The accuracy of TVS with BP was similar to that of TVS without BP in estimating the maximum diameter of the largest nodule (P = 0.644) and the distance between the more caudal rectosigmoid nodule and the anal verge (P = 0.162). BP does not improve the diagnostic performance of TVS in detecting rectosigmoid endometriosis and in assessing characteristics of endometriotic nodules. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ferrero S ，Scala C ，Stabilini C ，Vellone VG ，Barra F ，Leone Roberti Maggiore U ... -  《-》

A prospective study comparing rectal water contrast-transvaginal ultrasonography with sonovaginography for the diagnosis of deep posterior endometriosis.

Preoperative assessment of deep endometriotic (DE) nodules is necessary to inform patients about the possible treatments and provide informed consent in case of surgery. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic performance of rectal water-contrast transvaginal ultrasonography (RWC-TVS) and sonovaginography (SVG) in women with suspicion of posterior DE. This prospective comparative study (NCT04296760) enrolled women with clinical suspicion of DE at our institution (Piazza della Vittoria 14 SRL, Genoa, Italy). Exclusion criteria were previous diagnosis of DE by imaging techniques or laparoscopy. All patients underwent RWC-TVS and SVG, independently performed by two gynecological sonologists blinded to the other technique's results. Patients underwent laparoscopic surgery within the following three months; imaging findings were compared with surgical and histological results. In 208 of 281 (74.0%) patients included, posterior DE was surgically confirmed in rectosigmoid (n = 88), vagina (n = 21), rectovaginal septum (n = 34) and uterosacral ligaments (n = 156). RWC-TVS and SVG demonstrated similar sensitivity (SE; 93.8% vs 89.4%; p = 0.210) and specificity (SP; 86.3% vs 79.4%; p = 0.481) in diagnosing posterior DE. Specifically, both examinations had similar accuracy in detecting nodules of uterosacral ligaments (p = 0.779), vagina (p = 0.688) and rectovaginal septum (p = 0.824). RWC-TVS had higher SE (95.2% vs 82.0%; p = 0.003) and similar SP (99.5% vs 98.5%; p = 0.500) in diagnosing rectosigmoid endometriosis and estimated better infiltration of intestinal submucosa (p = 0.039), and distance between these nodules and anal verge (p < 0.001); only RWC-TVS allowed the estimation of bowel lumen stenosis. A similar proportion of discomfort was experienced during both examinations (p = 0.191), although a statistically higher mean visual analog score was reported during RWC-TVS (p < 0.001). Although RWC-TVS and SVG have similar accuracy in the diagnosis of DE, RWC-TVS performed better in assessment of the characteristics of rectosigmoid endometriosis.

Barra F ，Leone Roberti Maggiore U ，Evangelisti G ，Scala C ，Alessandri F ，Vellone VG ，Stabilini C ，Ferrero S ... -  《-》