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Evaluating the development of endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions over time: an ultrasound study of symptomatic women

Orlov, Sofie LU orcid ; Sladkevicius, Povilas LU orcid and Jokubkiene, Ligita LU (2024) In Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Abstract
Introduction
There is a gap in knowledge regarding development of endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions visible at transvaginal ultrasound. The objectives were to evaluate if women with symptoms suggestive of endometriosis or adenomyosis but normal ultrasound examination develop endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions visible at ultrasound over time and if alterations of symptoms over time are associated with ultrasound findings at follow-up.
Material and Methods
This was a prospective cohort study of 100 symptomatic women with normal initial ultrasound examination during 2014–2017 who underwent follow-up ultrasound examination in 2022. Symptoms suggestive of endometriosis were assessed using visual analog scale at both... (More)
Introduction
There is a gap in knowledge regarding development of endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions visible at transvaginal ultrasound. The objectives were to evaluate if women with symptoms suggestive of endometriosis or adenomyosis but normal ultrasound examination develop endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions visible at ultrasound over time and if alterations of symptoms over time are associated with ultrasound findings at follow-up.
Material and Methods
This was a prospective cohort study of 100 symptomatic women with normal initial ultrasound examination during 2014–2017 who underwent follow-up ultrasound examination in 2022. Symptoms suggestive of endometriosis were assessed using visual analog scale at both examinations and minimal clinically important difference of 10 mm was considered as a significant alteration. An examiner with expertise in advanced ultrasound examination of endometriosis performed transvaginal ultrasound examinations in accordance with the consensus protocol by the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis group.
Results
At follow-up ultrasound examination of 100 women, 13 (13% [95% CI 7.1–21.2]) had visible endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions, 8 (8% [95% CI 3.5–15.2]) had endometriosis lesions, and 6 (6% [95% CI 2.2–12.6]) had adenomyosis. At follow-up, women with endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions reported lower intensity of dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain compared to women without lesions (48 mm [IQR 16–79] vs. 73 mm [IQR 46–85] and 45 mm [IQR 26–57] vs. 57 mm [IQR 36–75], p = 0.087 and p = 0.026, respectively). None of the women with endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions reported increased intensity of dysmenorrhea at follow-up, compared to 32/86 women (37%) without lesions (p = 0.008). Increased intensity of chronic pelvic pain tended to be less common in women with lesions compared to those without (3/13 [23%] vs. 35/86 [41%], p = 0.223).
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that in symptomatic women, endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions visible at ultrasound may develop over time. However, majority of women remain having normal ultrasound examinations despite symptoms. Exacerbation of dysmenorrhea or chronic pelvic pain during follow-up was not associated with the development of endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions visible at ultrasound, suggesting that even women with less severe symptoms might benefit from a follow-up ultrasound when indicated.
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Endometriosis, Adenomyomyosis, dysmenorrhea, follow-up, natural history, pelvic pain, ultrasonography
in
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:38687177
  • scopus:85192058218
ISSN
1600-0412
DOI
10.1111/aogs.14865
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
032dbc8f-bb17-40a5-a677-2c4a8442ed3a
date added to LUP
2024-05-05 16:13:15
date last changed
2024-05-15 16:05:14
@article{032dbc8f-bb17-40a5-a677-2c4a8442ed3a,
  abstract     = {{Introduction<br/>There is a gap in knowledge regarding development of endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions visible at transvaginal ultrasound. The objectives were to evaluate if women with symptoms suggestive of endometriosis or adenomyosis but normal ultrasound examination develop endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions visible at ultrasound over time and if alterations of symptoms over time are associated with ultrasound findings at follow-up.<br/>Material and Methods<br/>This was a prospective cohort study of 100 symptomatic women with normal initial ultrasound examination during 2014–2017 who underwent follow-up ultrasound examination in 2022. Symptoms suggestive of endometriosis were assessed using visual analog scale at both examinations and minimal clinically important difference of 10 mm was considered as a significant alteration. An examiner with expertise in advanced ultrasound examination of endometriosis performed transvaginal ultrasound examinations in accordance with the consensus protocol by the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis group.<br/>Results<br/>At follow-up ultrasound examination of 100 women, 13 (13% [95% CI 7.1–21.2]) had visible endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions, 8 (8% [95% CI 3.5–15.2]) had endometriosis lesions, and 6 (6% [95% CI 2.2–12.6]) had adenomyosis. At follow-up, women with endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions reported lower intensity of dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain compared to women without lesions (48 mm [IQR 16–79] vs. 73 mm [IQR 46–85] and 45 mm [IQR 26–57] vs. 57 mm [IQR 36–75], p = 0.087 and p = 0.026, respectively). None of the women with endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions reported increased intensity of dysmenorrhea at follow-up, compared to 32/86 women (37%) without lesions (p = 0.008). Increased intensity of chronic pelvic pain tended to be less common in women with lesions compared to those without (3/13 [23%] vs. 35/86 [41%], p = 0.223).<br/>Conclusions<br/>Our findings suggest that in symptomatic women, endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions visible at ultrasound may develop over time. However, majority of women remain having normal ultrasound examinations despite symptoms. Exacerbation of dysmenorrhea or chronic pelvic pain during follow-up was not associated with the development of endometriosis or adenomyosis lesions visible at ultrasound, suggesting that even women with less severe symptoms might benefit from a follow-up ultrasound when indicated.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Orlov, Sofie and Sladkevicius, Povilas and Jokubkiene, Ligita}},
  issn         = {{1600-0412}},
  keywords     = {{Endometriosis; Adenomyomyosis; dysmenorrhea; follow-up; natural history; pelvic pain; ultrasonography}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{Evaluating the development of endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions over time: an ultrasound study of symptomatic women}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14865}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/aogs.14865}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}