Anterior Focal Adenomyosis and Bladder Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: Is There a Link?

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between bladder deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and anterior focal adenomyosis of the outer myometrium (aFAOM) diagnosed by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

DESIGN

An observational, cross-sectional study using prospectively collected data (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

Single university tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: All nonpregnant women younger than 42 years who had undergone complete surgical exeresis of endometriotic lesions. For each patient a standardized questionnaire was completed during a face-to-face interview conducted by the surgeon during the month preceding the surgery. Only women with preoperative standardized uterine MRI were retained for this study.

INTERVENTIONS: Thirty-nine women with histologically proven bladder DIE and an available preoperative MRI were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: women with aFAOM (aFAOM (+), n = 19) and women without aFAOM (aFAOM (-), n = 20). Both groups were compared for general characteristics, medical history, MRI findings, and disease severity.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (48.7%) with bladder DIE had aFAOM at preoperative MRI. The rate of associated diffuse adenomyosis was similar in the 2 groups (63.2% [n = 12] vs 73.7% [n = 14]; p = .48). The rate of an associated ovarian endometrioma (OMA) was significantly lower in the aFAOM (+) group (10.5% [n = 2] vs 40.0% [n = 8]; p = .03). There were fewer associated intestinal DIE lesions in the aFAOM (+) group compared with the aFAOM (-) group (26.3% vs 75.0%; p = .02), with lower involvement of the pouch of Douglas (26.3% vs 70%; p < .01). Total American Society for Reproductive Medicine score was significantly lower in the aFAOM (+) group (13.8 ± 12.2 vs 62.2 ± 46.2; p < .01).

CONCLUSION

aFAOM is present in only half of women with bladder DIE and appears to be associated with lower associated posterior DIE.