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Martire FG, Giorgi M, D’Abate C, Colombi I, Ginetti A, Cannoni A, Fedele F, Exacoustos C, Centini G, Zupi E, Lazzeri L. Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis in Adolescence: Early Diagnosis and Possible Prevention of Disease Progression. J Clin Med 2024; 13:550. [PMID: 38256683 PMCID: PMC10816815 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis has a prevalence of 10% worldwide in premenopausal women. Probably, endometriosis begins early in the life of young girls, and it is commonly diagnosed later in life. The prevalence of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) in adolescence is currently unknown due to diagnostic limits and underestimation of clinical symptoms. Dysmenorrhea is a common symptom in adolescents affected by DIE, often accompanied by dyspareunia and chronic acyclic pelvic pain. Ultrasonography-either performed transabdominal, transvaginal or transrectal-should be considered the first-line imaging technique despite the potential for missed diagnosis due to early-stage disease. Magnetic resonance imaging should be preferred in the case of virgo patients or when ultrasonographic exam is not accepted. Diagnostic laparoscopy is deemed acceptable in the case of suspected DIE not responding to conventional hormonal therapy. An early medical and/or surgical treatment may reduce disease progression with an immediate improvement in quality of life and fertility, but at the same time, painful symptoms may persist or even recur due to the surgery itself. The aim of this narrative review is to report the prevalence of DIE in adolescents, describe the pathogenetic theories and discuss the management in adolescent women, including the challenging road to diagnosis and the treatment alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Giuseppe Martire
- Gynecological Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (F.G.M.); (C.E.)
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Matteo Giorgi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Claudia D’Abate
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Irene Colombi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Alessandro Ginetti
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Alberto Cannoni
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Francesco Fedele
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione “Policlinico-Mangiagalli-Regina Elena” University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Caterina Exacoustos
- Gynecological Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (F.G.M.); (C.E.)
| | - Gabriele Centini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Errico Zupi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Lucia Lazzeri
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.G.); (C.D.); (I.C.); (A.G.); (A.C.); (G.C.); (L.L.)
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Martire FG, Piccione E, Exacoustos C, Zupi E. Endometriosis and Adolescence: The Impact of Dysmenorrhea. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5624. [PMID: 37685691 PMCID: PMC10488856 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12175624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of premenopausal women worldwide. Despite its impact on quality of life, the delay in diagnosing this chronic disease is well known. Many patients with endometriosis report having suffered from dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain in adolescence or at a young age. However, this painful symptom is often highly underestimated and considered a normal and transient symptom in young women. The real prevalence of endometriosis in adolescence remains uncertain. Some authors recently described at least one ultrasound feature of endometriosis in 13.3% of a general population of adolescent girls, which increased to 35.3% in young girls with severe dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea is classified as primary dysmenorrhea or secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as a menstrual pain without organic disease, while secondary dysmenorrhea is defined as a menstrual pain associated with organic pelvic pathology. Since endometriosis represents the main cause of secondary dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young women, it is important to determine whether the patient has primary dysmenorrhea or additional suggestive symptoms related to endometriosis. Endometriosis in adolescent patients is a challenging problem with clinical and pathological differences compared with its presentation in premenopausal women. Adolescents and young women with dysmenorrhea and painful symptoms that suggest endometriosis should be referred to dedicated endometriosis centers for an early diagnosis and appropriate medical and surgical management. This paper aims to describe the role of dysmenorrhea in adolescents and the management of these young patients to confirm or exclude endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco G. Martire
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Emilio Piccione
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Catholic University “Our Lady of Good Counsel”, 1000 Tirane, Albania
| | - Caterina Exacoustos
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Errico Zupi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
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