News: Modified TVUS accurately diagnoses deep endometriosis

A slightly modified way of performing transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS), deemed the "tenderness-guided" approach, accurately, inexpensively, and less invasively diagnoses deep endometriosis, according to the results of a prospective study.

Italian researchers recruited 50 women scheduled for laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain. They used 12 mL of ultrasound transmission gel (instead of the usual 4 mL) in the probe cover to create a standoff to visualize the near-field area. They evaluated the posterior fornix with an up-and-down sliding motion of the probe until the patient indicated feeling tenderness upon the pressure. Then the painful or tender site was evaluated carefully for lesions.

The approach generated a specificity of 95% and a sensitivity of 90%. It also demonstrated good concordance between the suspected stage at ultrasonography and the actual stage at surgery.