Dados do Trabalho

Título

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Adolescents with suspected Endometriosis

Descrição sucinta do(s) objetivo(s)

Endometriosis, a condition affecting 10-15% of women of reproductive age, is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, often leading to chronic pelvic pain. Adolescents grappling with this condition confront challenges in diagnosis and treatment, constituting a demographic that is insufficiently represented in medical literature. While laparoscopic surgery is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, promising non-invasive methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have shown notable efficacy. Specifically, MRI demonstrates a sensitivity of 90% and a diagnostic specificity of 98% for identifying endometriomas, along with a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of up to 90% for detecting deep endometriosis.

Material(is) e método(s)

This study, conducted at a high-complexity center in Chile, sought to illuminate MRI findings in adolescents presenting with suspected endometriosis. Employing a retrospective design utilizing the institution's database, female patients aged 10 to 19 were included, referred for clinical suspicion of endometriosis and undergoing MRI between 2015 and 2022. Comprehensive data, encompassing sociodemographic, clinical, and radiological aspects; were collected.

Resultados e discussão

The average age of the patients enrolled was 15.86±0.73 years. All were nulligravid and referred due to pelvic pain or severe dysmenorrhea. MRI results revealed normal findings in 51.52% (n=17), while 21.21% (n=7) exhibited ovarian endometriomas. Prevalence rates for superficial peritoneal endometriosis, rectocervical lesions, and deep endometriosis stood at 15.15% (n=5), 6.06% (n=2), and 9.09% (n=3), respectively. Additionally, adenomyosis was observed in 21.21% (n=7) of cases. A mere 20% had a family history of endometriosis, while 80% utilized oral contraceptives.
The study highlights the significance of MRI as a diagnostic tool for adolescent endometriosis. The prevalence of ovarian endometriomas and fibrotic deep endometriosis increased with age, hinting at a potential correlation between lesion severity and advancing age. However, the study acknowledges MRI's limitations in visualizing superficial peritoneal lesions, emphasizing the imperative need for continuous research and the development of complementary diagnostic approaches when compared to the gold standard.

Conclusões

While MRI proves valuable in detecting specific endometriotic manifestations, addressing its limitations in visualizing superficial lesions necessitates ongoing research, encouraging efforts to enhance diagnostic capabilities in this crucial demographic.

Palavras Chave

Adolescent; Endometriosis; magnetic resonance

Arquivos