title: Bladder Endometriosis: A Systematic Review of Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Treatment, Impact on Fertility, and Risk of Malignant Transformation.
abstract: The bladder is the most common site affected in urinary tract endometriosis. There is controversy regarding the pathogenesis, clinical management (diagnosis and treatment), impact on fertility, and risk of malignant transformation of bladder endometriosis (BE).
  
  
  
  To systematically evaluate evidence regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment, impact on female fertility, and risk of malignant transformation of BE.
  
  
  
  A systematic review of PubMed/Medline from inception until October 2016 was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement and was registered in the PROSPERO registry (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero; CRD42016039281). Eighty-seven articles were selected for inclusion in this analysis.
  
  
  
  BE is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma in the detrusor muscle. Ultrasonography is the first-line technique for assessment of BE owing to its accuracy, safety, and cost. Clinical management can be conservative, using hormonal therapies, or surgical. When conservative treatment is preferred, estrogen-progestogen combinations and progestogens should be chosen because of their favorable profile that allows long-term therapy. Surgery should guarantee complete removal of the bladder nodule to minimize recurrence, so transurethral surgery alone should be avoided in favor of segmental bladder resection. There is not a strong rationale for hypothesizing a detrimental impact of BE per se on fertility. Furthermore, current evidence does not support the removal of bladder endometriotic lesions because of the potential risk of malignant transformation since this phenomenon is exceedingly rare.
  
  
  
  BE is a challenging condition, and the common coexistence of other types of endometriosis means that clinical management of BE should involve collaboration between gynecologists and urologists.
  
  
  
  In this article we review available knowledge on bladder endometriosis. The review provides a useful tool to guide physicians in the management of this complex condition.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS AOU San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Leone Roberti Maggiore
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS AOU San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: simoneferrero@me.com.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vita Salute San Raffaele University School of Medicine, IRCCS, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Department of Obstet-Gynecol, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somigliana
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Department of Obstet-Gynecol, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vercellini
mesh_terms: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000379:methods; D003558:Cystoscopy; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D011372:Progestins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: Bladder; Diagnosis; Endometriosis; Fertility; Treatment