Type and Location of Adenomyosis in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Transvaginal Ultrasonographic Assessment.

The current knowledge on adenomyosis as a risk factor for RPL is very scant. Overall 120 women were included in this retrospective observational study. They were divided in three groups each of which consisted of 40 subjects: Group 1: women with RPL who were diagnosed to have adenomyosis on transvaginal ultrasound (TVS); Group 2: patients with RPL without ultrasonographic findings of adenomyosis; Group 3: patients with ultrasound diagnosis of adenomyosis without RPL and at least one live birth pregnancy. The copresence of endometriosis was also investigated. Among women with RPL, patients with adenomyosis (Group 1) had higher number of pregnancy losses (p = 0.03) and lower age at first pregnancy loss (p = 0.03) than women without adenomyosis (Group 2). Moreover, they had more frequently primary RPL (p = 0.008). Adenomyosis of the inner myometrium was found more frequently (p = 0.04) in patients of Group 1 than in patients of Group 3 in which adenomyosis was mainly in the outer myometrium (p= 0.02). No differences were found in the severity of adenomyosis between these two groups of women. TVS findings for endometriosis were observed more frequently in women with adenomyosis without RPL (Group 3) than in the other two groups of patients. Adenomyosis can be a factor involved in RPL. Differences in adenomyosis localization are associated with different risks for RPL. Patients with RPL should be investigated for the presence of adenomyosis and also for the type and localization of the disease in the different myometrial layers.

Early noninvasive diagnosis of endometriosis: dysmenorrhea and specific ultrasound findings are important indicators in young women.

OBJECTIVES: To diagnose endometriosis in young patients ≤25y with severe dysmenorrhea through specific ultrasonographic examination findings and to correlate the symptoms to its different forms: ovarian, deep infiltrating endometriosis, and adenomyosis. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. SETTING: University Hospital. PATIENT(S): Women aged 12-25 years with severe dysmenorrhea and a visual analog scale score ≥7. INTERVENTION(S): This study included 371 women aged 12-25 years referred to our gynecological ultrasound (US) Unit between January 2016 and December 2021 with severe dysmenorrhea and a visual analog scale score ≥7. Two dimensional, 3 dimensional, and power Doppler US pelvic examinations (transvaginal or transrectal in presexually active girls) were performed on all patients. Medical history and symptoms were collected routinely for each patient before the scan. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): All possible locations of endometriosis, isolated or combined occurrence, were evaluated, and recorded using an US dedicated mapping sheet. Painful symptoms were evaluated by visual analog scale and correlated to the different endometriosis forms. RESULT(S): At least one US endometriosis feature was identified in 131 (35.3%) patients, whereas the US findings of 170 (45.8%) were normal despite the referred dysmenorrhea. Of the 131 patients with endometriosis, ovarian endometrioma was found in 54 (41.2%), and 22 (16.8%) had an isolated endometrioma. Adenomyosis was detected in 67 (51.1%) patients, and 28 (21.4%) showed its isolated indications. Posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis was found in 70 (53.4%) patients, and uterosacral ligament (USL) fibrotic thickening was found in 63 (48.1%). In 23 patients, the USL lesion was completely isolated. The combined occurrence of dysmenorrhea with dyspareunia, bowel symptoms, and heavy menstrual bleeding increases the presence of endometriosis up to 59%, 63%, and 45%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): In young patients with severe dysmenorrhea, the US-based detection rate of pelvic endometriosis was one-third. USL fibrotic thickening and mild adenomyosis are often the only findings, so an accurate pelvic US scan can provide an early diagnosis by identifying small endometriotic lesions. Young patients with dysmenorrhea should be referred to an expert sonographer to minimize the delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.

A Rare Sigmoid-Colon Schwannoma in a Premenopausal Woman: A Case Report.

Background: Schwannomas of the gastrointestinal tract are a rare type of spindle cell tumor of peripheral nerve. Commonly, schwannomas are discovered incidentally, as they are usually asymptomatic. Case: 46-year-old female patient, suffering from secondary amenorrhea and nonspecific intermittent pelvic pain associated with constipation. During gynecological visit an ultrasonographic systematic transvaginal examination was performed. At the sigmoid-rectal level an intraluminal solid mass was described and an urgent colonoscopy was prescribed. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed with en-bloc resection. On immunohistochemical analysis, S100 was strongly positive in tumor cells. Finally, a benign schwannoma of the sigmoid colon was diagnosed. Conclusion: Our case highlights the importance of an adequate transvaginal pelvic examination with the evaluation of all pelvic organs. It could be challenging to make diagnosis in an early stage on asymptomatic patients.