Abstract: The term “bowel endometriosis” indicates endometrial-like glands and stroma that infiltrate the bowel wall. Bowel endometriosis is estimated to be found in 8-12% of women with endometriosis and 5-37% of those with deep infiltrating endometriosis. Patients affected by bowel endometriosis usually complain of pain and intestinal symptoms; however, these symptoms are not specific, and imaging techniques are required for the diagnosis. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) is currently considered a fundamental noninvasive diagnostic method to evaluate the presence and extent of rectosigmoid endometriosis when presenting alone or in association with other localizations. Several ultrasonographic techniques (named “enhanced” or “modified” transvaginal ultrasonography) based on the distention of the vagina and/or rectosigmoid with saline solution and/or ultrasonographic gel have been proposed to improve the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis. In patients with previous equivocal TVS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended as a second-line technique in the preoperative workup of deep endometriosis. Multidetector computerized tomography enema (MDCT-e) is a computerized tomography technique relying on the distention of the colon using water. Several studies have shown its excellent accuracy for the detection of bowel endometriosis. In the last ten years, computed tomography colonoscopy has been frequently used to diagnose bowel endometriosis; it has good diagnostic performance. It has the advantage of precisely estimating the degree of stenosis of the intestinal lumen and the distance between the endometriotic nodule and the anal verge.


Keywords: endometriosis; bowel endometriosis; transvaginal ultrasonography; magnetic resonance imaging, virtual colonoscopy

Biography: Prof. Simone Ferrero has taken the degree in Medicine in 1999 and the specialization in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2004. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Genova (Italy). In 2006, the obtained the European University Diploma of Gynaecological Operative Endoscopy at the l'Université Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France and in and in 2007 he obtained the Diplôme D’Université de Chirurgie Laparoscopique at the Université Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. In 2009, he obtained the PhD at the Queen Mary University of London. As regards the scientific activity, he has published more than 300 articles in peer-reviewed journals, the Hirsch Index (H-index) is 46. He has given more than 100 presentations in national and international meetings. The main areas of his clinical research include endometriosis, uterine myomas, gynaecological surgery and gynaecological oncology. The main areas of this basic research include endometriosis and ovarian cancer.