title: Susceptibility-weighted MRI of extra-ovarian endometriosis: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Extra-ovarian endometriosis (EOE) usually appears as solid masses mimicking neoplasms both clinically and radiologically. Detection of blood products within a lesion may be suggestive of its endometriotic nature. We present a descriptive study of MR imaging findings that include susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for patients with EOE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight pathologically proven EOE (3 bowel, 2 bladder and 3 abdominal wall) were evaluated. Fat-saturated T1-weighted images (fsT1WI) and SWI were obtained using 1.5T MR imaging. Images were reviewed for the presence of signal voids on SWI and of high-intensity foci on fsT1WI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-intensity foci reflecting subacute hemorrhage were detected in 4 of 8 lesions (50%) on fsT1WI, whereas signal voids reflecting acute to chronic hemorrhage were detected in all 8 lesions (100%) on SWI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWI is a sensitive MRI technique which demonstrates hemorrhage of varying chronicity in patients with EOE and may improve future MRI characterization of EOE.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Tokushima, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 7708503, Japan. mayumi@tokushima-u.ac.jp.
authors: Mayumi
authors: M
authors: Takeuchi
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Tokushima, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 7708503, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Matsuzaki
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Tokushima, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 7708503, Japan.
authors: Masafumi
authors: M
authors: Harada
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Endometriosis; Extra-ovarian endometriosis; Female pelvis; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)