title: The Role of Computed Tomography Colonography in Detecting Bowel Involvement in Women With Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: Comparison With Clinical History, Serum Ca125, and Transvaginal Sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to assess the diagnostic value of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) in recognizing bowel endometriosis in comparison with serum Ca125, transvaginal sonography (TVS), and presence of intestinal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included in this study 92 women undergoing surgery for symptomatic DIE. Preoperative evaluation included clinical history, Ca125 serum value, and TVS. CTC was performed in 37/92 patients (40.2%), and the results were compared to the other preoperative tools and to surgical exploration, considered the clinical reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgery confirmed bowel endometriosis in 49/92 subjects (53.3%). Presence of intestinal symptoms, serum Ca125 values, and TVS were significantly correlated to intestinal involvement, but CTC had the highest accuracy in detecting bowel endometriosis with a sensitivity of 68%, a specificity of 67%, a PPV of 81%, and a NPV of 50% (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTC proved to be an accurate and low invasive imaging technique to detect DIE of the bowel and compared favorably with clinical evaluation, serum Ca125 determination, and TVS.
authors.affiliation: From the *Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, †General Surgery, and ‡Radiology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baggio
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zecchin
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pomini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanconato
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genna
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motton
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montemezzi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; C451759:MUC16 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins