The importance and perspective of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of endometriosis

Imaging of Endometriotic Lesions Using cRGD-MN Probe in a Mouse Model of Endometriosis

Approximately 10% of women suffer from endometriosis during their reproductive years. This disease is a chronic debilitating condition whose etiology for lesion implantation and survival heavily relies on adhesion and angiogenic factors. Currently, there are no clinically approved agents for its detection. In this study, we evaluated cRGD-peptide-conjugated nanoparticles (RGD-Cy5.5-MN) to detect lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a mouse model of endometriosis. We utilized a luciferase-expressing murine suture model of endometriosis. Imaging was performed before and after 24 h following the intravenous injection of RGD-Cy5.5-MN or control nanoparticles (Cy5.5-MN). Next, we performed biodistribution of RGD-Cy5.5-MN and correlative fluorescence microscopy of lesions stained for CD34. Tissue iron content was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Our results demonstrated that targeting endometriotic lesions with RGD-Cy5.5-MN resulted in a significantly higher delta T2* upon its accumulation compared to Cy5.5-MN. ICP-OES showed significantly higher iron content in the lesions of the animals in the experimental group compared to the lesions of the animals in the control group. Histology showed colocalization of Cy5.5 signal from RGD-Cy5.5-MN with CD34 in the lesions pointing to the targeted nature of the probe. This work offers initial proof-of-concept for targeting angiogenesis in endometriosis which can be useful for potential clinical diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for treating this disease.

MRI and Adenomyosis: What Can Radiologists Evaluate?

Uterine adenomyosis is a common benign condition defined by the presence of heterotopic endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. Adenomyosis is often related to infertility and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Modern imaging techniques allow the non-invasive diagnosis of adenomyosis and, in this framework, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has assumed a central role due to its high diagnostic accuracy in the detection of adenomyosis. Currently, there is still a lack of international consensus on adenomyosis diagnostic criteria and classification, despite the fact that an agreed reporting system would promote treatment outcomes and research. This review aims to emphasize the important contribution of MRI to the diagnosis of adenomyosis and to highlight how, thanks to the great tissue differentiation provided by MRI, it is possible to identify the main direct (cystic component) and indirect (junctional zone features) signs of adenomyosis and to distinguish its various subtypes according to different MRI-based classifications. We also explored the main MRI criteria to identify the most common pitfalls and differential diagnoses of adenomyosis, whose features should be considered to avoid misdiagnosis.

Can New ENZIAN Score 2020 Represent a Staging System Improving MRI Structured Report?

Structured reporting systems for endometriotic disease are gaining a central role in diagnostic imaging: our aim is to evaluate applicability and the feasibility of the recent ENZIAN score (2020) assessed by MRI. A total of 60 patients with suspected tubo–ovarian/deep endometriosis were retrospectively included in our study according to the following criteria: availability of MR examination; histopathological results from laparoscopic or surgical treatment; patients were not assuming estro-progestin or progestin therapy. Three different readers (radiologists with 2-, 5-, and 20-years of experience in pelvic imaging) have separately assigned a score according to the ENZIAN score (revised 2020) for all lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our study showed a high interobserver agreement and feasibility of the recent ENZIAN score applied to MRI; on the other hand, our experience highlighted some limitations mainly due to MRI’s inability to assess tubal patency and mobility, as required by the recent score (2020). In view of the limitations which arose from our study, we propose a modified MRI-ENZIAN score that provides a complete structured reporting system, more suitable for MRI. The high interobserver agreement of the recent ENZIAN score applied to MRI confirms its validity as a complete staging system for endometriosis, offering a shared language between radiologists and surgeons.

Endometriosis Associated Infertility: A Critical Review and Analysis on Etiopathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches

Endometriosis represents a frequently diagnosed gynecological affliction in the reproductive timespan of women, defined by symptoms ranging from pelvic pain to infertility. A complex interplay between the genetic profile, hormonal activity, menstrual cyclicity, inflammation status, and immunological factors define the phenotypic presentation of endometriosis. To date, imaging techniques represent the gold standard in diagnosing endometriosis, of which transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging bring the most value to the diagnostic step. Current medical treatment options for endometriosis-associated infertility focus on either stimulating the follicular development and ovulation or on inhibiting the growth and development of endometriotic lesions. Techniques of assisted reproduction consisting of superovulation with in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination represent effective treatment alternatives that improve fertility in patients suffering from endometriosis. Emerging therapies such as the usage of antioxidant molecules and stem cells still need future research to prove the therapeutic efficacy in this pathology.

Understanding pre-operative staging and surgical practice in advanced endometriosis: A survey of Canadian gynaecologists

Study objective:

To determine the pre-operative evaluation, surgical management and referral practices in patients with advanced stage endometriosis by Canadian gynaecologists.

Design:

A survey of obstetricians and gynaecologists.

Setting:

The survey was initiated and piloted at an academic centre by general gynaecologists and endometriosis specialists.

Intervention:

Electronically distributed to 733 individuals by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. This included all members, irrespective of subspecialty and practice patterns.

Measurement:

Responses were collected using a web-based survey tool and analysed using Excel.

Results:

The response rate was 15.7% (115 respondents). Pre-operatively, 62.2% of respondents perform a transvaginal ultrasound on all of their patients, while magnetic resonance imaging is reserved for patients with physical exam findings suspicious for advanced endometriosis (26.7%) or in whom the surgeons suspect deep infiltrating endometriosis, bowel, bladder or uterosacral disease (54.4%). Most surgeons (81.4%) report encountering advanced disease that they did not suspect pre-operatively <10% of the time. Although 40% of respondents would refer their patients in whom they suspected deep infiltrating endometriosis, endometriomas, bowel, bladder or uterosacral ligament involvement to an endometriosis specialist prior to any attempted surgery, 54.4% would never refer without previously confirming the diagnosis at laparoscopy. In contrast, only 15% felt comfortable treating advanced endometriosis completely at time of laparoscopy (including deep infiltrating endometriosis, bladder and bowel disease). Post-operatively, 67.8% of respondents refer patients to an endometriosis specialist only if their disease was not appropriately treated surgically, while 23.3% do not refer any of their patients.

Conclusion:

Our study identified significant variability in the management of advanced endometriosis in Canada. Understanding these patterns will help us formulate a more universal investigation and management plan, which may improve the identification of patients pre-operatively with advanced stage endometriosis that could benefit from treatment by an endometriosis specialist.

Imaging techniques in endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition affecting up to 15% of the general female population. Here, we present a systematic review of imaging techniques of endometriosis. The aim of this review is to determine the most accurate site-specific preoperative diagnostic tools in order to map, locate, evaluate the extension, and stage the disease. There are important reasons to stage endometriosis: to create a common language, to enable specificity of diagnosis, standardize comparisons, and to facilitate research applications. The requirements of an ideal endometriosis classification system are that it be empirically and scientifically based, be of general consensus, have unambiguous definition of terms, be comprehensive in all cases, have a simple translation from anatomic features to verbal description, reflect disease, predict fertility, predict pain relief, be useful to guide treatment, indicate risk of recurrence, identify clinical situations in which it does not apply, be simple to calculate, and be easy to communicate to women. An extensive search of papers regarding imaging techniques in endometriosis was performed in Pubmed from January 1992 to February 2018, including original peer-reviewed papers, reviews, and international guidelines.

Evaluation of the indications for performing magnetic resonance imaging of the female pelvis at a referral center for cancer, according to the American College of Radiology criteria

Objective

To evaluate the indications for performing magnetic resonance imaging of the female pelvis at a referral center for cancer.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective, single-center study, conducted by reviewing medical records and imaging reports. We included 1060 female patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis at a cancer center between January 2013 and June 2014. The indications for performing the examination were classified according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 52.6 ± 14.8 years, and 49.8% were perimenopausal or postmenopausal. The majority (63.9%) had a history of cancer, which was gynecologic in 29.5% and nongynecologic in 34.4%. Of the patients evaluated, 44.0% had clinical complaints, the most common being pelvic pain (in 11.5%) and bleeding (in 9.8%), and 34.7% of patients had previously had abnormal findings on ultrasound. Most (76.7%) of the patients met the criteria for undergoing magnetic resonance imaging, according to the ACR guidelines. The main indications were evaluation of tumor recurrence after surgical resection (in 25.9%); detection and staging of gynecologic neoplasms (in 23.3%); and evaluation of pelvic pain or of a mass (in 17.1%).

Conclusion

In the majority of the cases evaluated, magnetic resonance imaging was clearly indicated according to the ACR criteria. The main indication was local recurrence after surgical treatment of pelvic malignancies, which is consistent with the routine protocols at cancer centers.

Transverse Relaxation Rate of Cyst Fluid Can Predict Malignant Transformation of Ovarian Endometriosis

Purpose:

Heme and iron accumulation due to repeated hemorrhage in endometriosis may contribute to a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. We evaluate the clinical application of MR relaxometry in a series of ovarian endometriosis (OE) and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC).

Materials and Methods:

A prospective study of diagnostic accuracy was conducted among 82 patients (67 OE and 15 EAOC) to compare MR relaxometry and biochemical measurement of cyst fluid total iron concentration. Transverse relaxation rate R2 value was determined using a single-voxel, multi-echo MR sequence (HISTO) by a 3T-MR system. Phantom experiments were also performed to assess the correlation between the ex vivo R2 values and total iron concentrations.

Results:

Both the results of phantom experiments and in vivo human data confirmed that in vivo R2 values were highly correlated with total iron concentrations. Compared to OE, EAOC exhibit decreased in vivo R2 values and total iron levels, regardless of their age, menopausal status and cyst size. The use of in vivo R2 values retained excellent accuracy in distinguishing EAOC versus OE (sensitivity and specificity: 86% and 94%).

Conclusions:

We have demonstrated that MR relaxometry provides a noninvasive predictive tool to discriminate between EAOC and OE.

Carcinoma of the recto-vaginal septum. Comprehensive literature review

Carcinoma of the recto-vaginal septum is an extremely rare entity. We performed a MEDLINE-based search on recto-vaginal septum carcinoma, focussing on its management, in order to clarify which are the best treatment options for this disease. In addition an unpublished case report has been added to the review. 34 case reports were included in our review. Surgery and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy seem to be the most common treatment option. However, since primary surgical treatment leads to mutilation by removing a large portion of the vagina and the anal sphincter with a permanent terminal colostomy, primary platinum-based chemoradiation therapy could be considered. In case of extragastrointestinal stromal tumours primary surgical treatment seems to be the best option. Due to the rarity of this entity only limited data is available. Therefore further investigation is necessary.