Accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound for diagnosis of deep infiltrating endometriosis in the uterosacral ligaments: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To review the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) in the preoperative detection of uterosacral ligaments (USL) in patients with clinical suspicion of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). METHODS: Extensive searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries to search studies published between January 1989 and September 2, 2019. The inclusion criteria were the preoperative assessment of USL endometriosis by TVS in patients with clinically suspected DIE, using laparoscopy and histological results as the reference standard. The assessment of research quality uses preferred reporting items, including the System Review and Meta Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, as well as the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy study 2 (QUADAS-2) tools. RESULTS: During our advanced search, 7562 studies were identified. Finally, 11 of which were recognized as qualified and incorporated into this study. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive probability ratio (LR+) and negative probability ratio(LR-) of TVS for detecting DIE in the USL were 65 %(95 %CI:43-83), 92 %(95 %CI:84-96), 7.80 (95 %CI:4.7-13.0) and 0.38(95 %CI:0.22-0.66), respectively. There was significant heterogeneity in sensitivity (I2: 97.40 %; Cochran Q, 385.09; P<0.001) and specificity (I2, 93.89 %; Cochran Q, 163.75; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: TVS provides an excellent comprehensive diagnostic performance for DIE of the USL. However, further research is required to improve the diagnostic quality.