Noninvasive diagnosis of endometriosis: the role of imaging and markers.
Endometriosis is defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Clinical and basic research in endometriosis has been hampered severely by the lack of accurate noninvasive diagnostic techniques. Transvaginal ultrasonography, MRI, and endometrial and serum markers have the potential to facilitate the diagnosis and can be useful in the follow-up of patients. Endometriosis research has entered the postgenomic era, and powerful genomic and proteomic technology is being applied in the search for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This article explores the recent advances in imaging techniques and the development of diagnostic molecular markers of endometriosis.
Brosens
Jan
J
Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Wolfson and Weston Research Centre for Family Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 ONN, United Kingdom. j.brosens@ic.ac.uk
Timmerman
Dirk
D
Starzinski-Powitz
Anna
A
Brosens
Ivo
I
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D015415:Biomarkers