Sonovaginography is a new technique for assessing rectovaginal endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a new technique, the sonovaginography, for the assessment of rectovaginal endometriosis.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Forty-six women were scheduled for laparotomic or laparoscopic surgery because of rectovaginal endometriosis suspected on the basis of patient history and/or clinical examination.


METHODS
Before surgery, all the women underwent transvaginal ultrasonography and then sonovaginography. The latter is based on transvaginal ultrasonography combined with the introduction of saline solution to the vagina that creates an acoustic window between the transvaginal probe and the surrounding structures of the vagina. Ultrasound findings were compared with the results of surgical exploration and histological examination.


METHODS
We assessed the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography and of sonovaginography for the detection and the location and extension assessment of rectovaginal endometriotic lesions, as well as compared patient compliance between the procedures.


RESULTS
Sonovaginography diagnosed rectovaginal endometriosis more accurately than did transvaginal ultrasonography, with a sensitivity and specificity of 90.6% and 85.7%, respectively, whereas the transvaginal ultrasonography has shown a sensitivity and specificity of 43.7% and 50%, respectively. Patient discomfort did not differ significantly between the procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonovaginography is a reliable and simple method for the assessment of rectovaginal endometriosis and provides information on location, extension, and infiltration of the lesions, which are important factors in selecting the kind of surgery.
Dessole
Salvatore
S
Department of Pharmacology, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. dessole@uniss.it
Farina
Mario
M
Rubattu
Giovanni
G
Cosmi
Erich
E
Ambrosini
Guido
G
Nardelli
Giovanni Battista
GB
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D012965:Sodium Chloride