Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Nov 16;6(11):525-33.
doi: 10.4253/wjge.v6.i11.525.

Recto-sigmoid endoscopic-ultrasonography in the staging of deep infiltrating endometriosis

Gilles Roseau  1
Affiliations
Review

Recto-sigmoid endoscopic-ultrasonography in the staging of deep infiltrating endometriosis

Gilles Roseau. World J Gastrointest Endosc. .

Abstract

Recto-sigmoid endoscopic ultrasonography (RS-EUS) has first been used in the staging of pelvic deep infiltrating endometriosis in the early 1990's. Since then, although publications have been sparse, RS-EUS is routinely used for this indication in few centers. In this paper, we focus on technical aspects and operating method of rectal and sigmoid endo-sonography, and describe the most characteristic echographic presentations of endometriosis of the lower digestive tract. Through a literature review, results obtained with different types of endo-rectal probes, either flexible endoscopic, or blind rigid, are presented and compared with those of other close imaging techniques: magnetic resonance imaging and the more recent trans-vaginal sonography. As well as these two latter techniques, RS-EUS appears as an interesting method in the staging of pelvic deep infiltrating endometriosis particularly to evaluate rectal and sigmoid infiltrations. However, more prospective studies are required, to correctly define respective indications for each exam, in the light of recent advancements in treating this frequent disease.

Keywords: Endometriosis; Endoscopic-ultrasonography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Rectum and sigmoid; Surgical treatment; Ultrasound.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Digestive walls echoic stratifications depending on frequencies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Normal peri-rectal anatomy. White arrow: Uterus; Yellow arrow: Right ovary; Blue arrow: Bladder.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Different types of muscularis propria infiltration. A: Infiltration limited to external muscularis propria; B: Infiltration of the entire thickness of the muscularis propria.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Endoscopic and echographic presentations of recto-sigmoid endometriosis. A: Mucosae infiltration; B: Sigmoïd stenosis; C: Sub-mucosae (white arrow) and muscularis (white star) infiltrations.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Other pelvic endometriosis locations. A: Infiltrated Torus; B: Bilateral Ovarian endometriomas; C: Infiltrated utero-sacral ligament; D: Bladder nodule.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Chapron C, Fauconnier A, Dubuisson JB, Barakat H, Vieira M, Bréart G. Deep infiltrating endometriosis: relation between severity of dysmenorrhoea and extent of disease. Hum Reprod. 2003;18:760–766. - PubMed
    1. Koninckx PR, Martin DC. Deep endometriosis: a consequence of infiltration or retraction or possibly adenomyosis externa? Fertil Steril. 1992;58:924–928. - PubMed
    1. Zwas FR, Lyon DT. Endometriosis. An important condition in clinical gastroenterology. Dig Dis Sci. 1991;36:353–364. - PubMed
    1. Yantiss RK, Clement PB, Young RH. Endometriosis of the intestinal tract: a study of 44 cases of a disease that may cause diverse challenges in clinical and pathologic evaluation. Am J Surg Pathol. 2001;25:445–454. - PubMed
    1. Chapron C, Dubuisson JB, Chopin N, Foulot H, Jacob S, Vieira M, Barakat H, Fauconnier A. [Deep pelvic endometriosis: management and proposal for a “surgical classification”] Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2003;31:197–206. - PubMed