Diagnosis and Prognosis of Endometriosis

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 709

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide, with a significant impact on the quality of life and fertility. The accurate diagnosis of endometriosis is crucial for effective management, while its recurrence poses a considerable clinical dilemma. Various factors contribute to the complexity of its diagnosis and recurrence, including the heterogeneous presentation of symptoms, lack of specific biomarkers, and the multifaceted nature of its pathogenesis. The diagnosis of endometriosis typically involves a combination of clinical evaluations, imaging studies, and invasive procedures, such as a laparoscopy with histological confirmation. Clinical manifestations, such as chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility, often raise suspicion for endometriosis. Transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have emerged as valuable, non-invasive imaging modalities for detecting endometriotic lesions, particularly in deep pelvic locations. However, their sensitivity and specificity vary depending on lesion size and location. Laparoscopy remains the gold standard for obtaining a definitive diagnosis, allowing for a direct visualization and biopsy of endometriotic lesions. The recurrence of endometriosis following a surgical or medical intervention remains a significant clinical challenge. Several factors contribute to disease recurrence, including an incomplete surgical excision of lesions, residual microscopic disease, hormonal fluctuations, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. Additionally, the presence of comorbidities, such as adenomyosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, may exacerbate the risk of recurrence.

Dr. Simone Ferrero
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • endometriosis
  • diagnosis
  • ultrasonography
  • recurrence
  • prognosis
  • symptoms
  • laparoscopy
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

15 pages, 451 KiB  
Review
Adenomyosis and Adolescence: A Challenging Diagnosis and Complex Management
by Francesco Giuseppe Martire, Claudia d’Abate, Giorgia Schettini, Giulia Cimino, Alessandro Ginetti, Irene Colombi, Alberto Cannoni, Gabriele Centini, Errico Zupi and Lucia Lazzeri
Diagnostics 2024, 14(21), 2344; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14212344 - 22 Oct 2024
Viewed by 419
Abstract
Adenomyosis is a chronic, hormone-related disease characterized by the presence of the endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. This condition can manifest in various features, focal or diffuse adenomyosis or as an adenomyoma, and it may involve different uterine walls (posterior, anterior, [...] Read more.
Adenomyosis is a chronic, hormone-related disease characterized by the presence of the endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. This condition can manifest in various features, focal or diffuse adenomyosis or as an adenomyoma, and it may involve different uterine walls (posterior, anterior, and/or lateral walls). The disease can also be classified into different degrees, as mild, moderate and severe, which can be associated with more intense symptoms, although this correlation is not always directly proportional. In fact, adenomyosis can be asymptomatic in about a third of cases or it can significantly impact patients’ quality of life through painful symptoms, such as dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia, abnormal uterine bleeding—particularly heavy menstrual bleeding—and potential effects on fertility. Historically, adenomyosis has been considered a disease primarily affecting premenopausal women over the age of 40, often multiparous, because the diagnosis was traditionally based on surgical reports from hysterectomies performed after the completion of reproductive desire. Data on the presence of adenomyosis in adolescent patients remain limited. However, in recent years, advancements in noninvasive diagnostic tools and increased awareness of this pathology have enabled earlier diagnoses. The disease appears to have an early onset during adolescence, with a tendency to progress in terms of extent and severity over time. Adenomyosis often coexists with endometriosis, which also has an early onset. Therefore, it is important, when diagnosing adenomyosis, to also screen for concomitant endometriosis, especially deep endometriosis in the posterior compartment. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the prevalence of different types and degrees of adenomyosis in younger patients, assess the associated symptoms, and describe the most appropriate diagnostic procedures for effective therapeutic management and follow-up, with the goal of improving the quality of life for these young women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Prognosis of Endometriosis)
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