Research Progress of the Diagnosis of Minimal/Mild Endometriosis

doi:10.12280/gjszjk.20210610

Abstract

Abstract:

Endometriosis (EMs) is a common gynecological disease that causes pelvic pain and infertility. Minimal/mild EMs (rAFs stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ) accounts for about 80% of EMs, and its lesions are usually peritoneal or superficial with the negative ultrasound findings. Because minimal/mild EMs lacks specific symptoms, imaging findings and biomarkers, most of them were delayed in the diagnosis and treatment which always lead to the moderate/severe EMs. Therefore, the early diagnosis of minimal/mild EMs is still a great challenge. Laparoscopy combined with pathology is currently the gold standard. However, it is an invasive and costly procedure with potential risks for patients, suggesting that it is not suitable for the screening for early EMs. In recent years, more and more less-invasive methods have been proposed, such as a model combined with clinical symptoms, signs, biomarkers and imaging, which provide a new idea for the early diagnosis of minimal/mild EMs. Although these methods show the promising potential in the diagnosis of minimal/mild EMs, further validation with large sample size and better diagnostic performance is still needed. The combination of clinical signs, pelvic examination and biomarkers may be the solution for the diagnosis of minimal/mild EMs.

Key words: Endometriosis, Early diagnosis, Diagnosis, Biomarkers, Model

ZHANG Jie, WANG Jing, HOU Zhen, MAO Yun-dong. Research Progress of the Diagnosis of Minimal/Mild Endometriosis[J]. Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning, 2022, 41(2): 151-155.

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