Clinical review demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for deep endometriosis, suggesting routine adoption reduces diagnostic delays and healthcare costs.
Key Points
To review the diagnostic performance of high-quality ultrasound for endometriosis subtypes and evaluate strategies to overcome clinical barriers to its routine integration.
Narrative review examining the accuracy of high-quality ultrasound compared to magnetic resonance imaging and diagnostic laparoscopy for ovarian endometriomas and deep endometriosis.
Evaluation of United Kingdom healthcare pathways, diagnostic delays, operator training requirements, and ethical implications regarding access disparities.
High-quality ultrasound shows high diagnostic accuracy for deep endometriosis and ovarian endometriomas, presenting an effective non-invasive alternative to surgical laparoscopy.
Continued clinical overreliance on magnetic resonance imaging without ultrasound integration contributes to substantial diagnostic delays and elevated healthcare costs.
Adoption remains restricted by the need for specialized sonographic expertise, creating regional and socioeconomic disparities in access to timely diagnosis.