Isolated Ovarian Endometrioma: A History Between Myth and Reality

Abstract

Study objective: To assess the association between ovarian endometriomas detectable at transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and other specific extraovarian lesions including adhesions, deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), and adenomyosis.

Design: Retrospective observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Two university hospitals.

Patients: Two hundred fifty-five symptomatic women with at least 1 ovarian endometrioma found on ultrasound after presentation with pain or irregular menstruation.

Interventions: Patients underwent TVS followed by either medical or surgical treatment.

Measurements and main results: Two hundred fifty-five women, aged 20 to 40 years, underwent TVS and were found to have at least 1 endometrioma with a diameter > 20 mm. Associated sonographic signs of pelvic endometriosis (adhesions, DIE, and adenomyosis) were recorded, and a subgroup of patients (n = 50) underwent laparoscopic surgery within 3 months of TVS. Mean endometrioma diameter was 40.0 ± 18.1 mm, and bilateral endometriomas were observed in 65 patients (25.5%). TVS showed posterior rectal DIE in 55 patients (21.5%) and a thickening of at least 1 uterosacral ligament in 93 patients (36.4%). One hundred eighty-six patients (73%) had adhesions, and 134 patients (53%) showed signs of myometrial adenomyosis on TVS. Thirty-eight patients (15%) exhibited only a single isolated endometrioma with a mobile ovary and no other signs of pelvic endometriosis/adenomyosis at TVS.

Conclusion: Ovarian endometriomas are indicators for pelvic endometriosis and are rarely isolated. Particularly, left endometriomas were found to be associated with rectal DIE and left uterosacral ligament localization and bilateral endometriomas correlated with adhesions and pouch of Douglas obliteration, whereas no correlation was found between endometrioma size and DIE. Determining appropriate management, whether clinical or surgical, is critical for ovarian endometriomas and concomitant adhesions, endometriosis, and adenomyosis in patients desiring future fertility.

Keywords: Adenomyosis; Deep endometriosis; Pain; Transvaginal ultrasound.