The Benefit of Transvaginal Elastography in Detecting Deep Endometriosis: A Feasibility Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate elastography features of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), and to define whether this technique may discriminate lesions from surrounding non-endometriotic tissue. METHODS: This was an exploratory observational study on women affected by DIE treated in a third-level academic hospital gynaecology outpatient facility between 2020 and 2021. Strain elastography (SE) was conducted via transvaginal probe. Tissue deformation of DIE and surrounding tissue was expressed as percentage tissue deformation or as subjective colour score (CS; from blue=stiff to red=soft, assigned numerical values from 0 to 3). Ratios of normal tissue/DIE were compared to ratio of normal tissue/stiffer normal tissue area. RESULTS: Evaluations were performed on 46 DIE nodules and surrounding tissue of the uterosacral ligaments (n=21), parametrium (n=7), rectum (n=14), and recto-vaginal septum (n =4). Irrespective of location, DIE strain ratio (3.09, IQR 2.38-4.14 vs. 1.25, IQR 1.11-1.48; p<0.001) and CS ratio (4.62, IQR 3.83-6.94 vs. 1.13, IQR 1.06-1.29; p<0.001) was significantly higher than that of normal tissue. ROC AUC of CS ratio was higher than ROC AUC of strain ratio (99.76%, CI.95 99.26-100% vs. 91.35%, CI.95 85.23-97.47%; p=0.007), and best ROC threshold for CS ratio was 1.82, with a sensitivity of 97.83% (CI.95 93.48-100%) and a specificity of 100% (CI.95 100-100%). CONCLUSIONS: Both strain and CS ratios accurately distinguish DIE nodules at various locations. Applications of elastography in improving the diagnosis DIE, in distinguishing different DIE lesions and in monitoring DIE evolution can be envisioned and are worthy of further evaluation.

Angle of Uterine Flexion and Adenomyosis.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of adenomyosis in symptomatic women in relation to the angle of flexion of the uterus. A total of 120 patients referring to our Chronic Pelvic Pain Center were prospectively enrolled. Each woman scored menstrual pain, intermenstrual pain, and dyspareunia on a 10 cm visual analogue scale and underwent a clinical examination and transvaginal ultrasound. MUSA criteria were used for the diagnosis of adenomyosis. The angle of flexion of the uterus on the cervix was categorized as <150° (75% of cases), between 150° and 210° (6.7% of cases) and >210° (18.3% of cases). Adenomyosis was diagnosed in 76/120 women (63.3%). In women with adenomyosis, the VAS of intermenstrual pain was higher than in women without adenomyosis (4.04 ± 3.79 vs. 2.57 ± 3.34; p < 0.034). The angle of uterine flexion >210° was more prevalent in women with than without adenomyosis (25.0% vs. 6.8%; p < 0.015). The odds ratio of suffering from adenomyosis markedly increased in the presence of an angle of uterine flexion >210° (OR 5.8 95% CI 1.19, 28.3; p > 0.029). The data indicate that the ultrasound-estimated angle of uterine flexion >210° is related to a higher prevalence of adenomyosis.

Clinical correlates of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) than the general population. Previous studies have suggested a negative association between 25(OH)D and clinical features of PD, but the data are inconsistent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study. Serum 25(OH)D, disease (Hoehn-Yahr stage [HY]) and clinical symptom (Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS]) severity and global cognitive functions (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) were studied in 500 consecutive PD patients not using vitamin D supplements. Information on sunlight exposure and dietary intakes (using a 66-item food frequency questionnaire) were also collected. A convenient sample of age and sex-matched community healthy controls (N = 100) was included as a control group. RESULTS: PD patients had lower 25(OH)D serum levels than controls. Deficiency status (<20 ng/mL) was found in 65.6% of patients. 25(OH)D levels were independently correlated to sunlight exposure (P = .002) and vitamin D intake (P = .009). In multivariate models, using a Mendelian randomization approach, lower serum 25(OH)D was associated with more severe disease (HY, P = .035), worse clinical symptoms (UPDRS Part-III total score [P = .006] and dopaminergic [P = .033] and non-dopaminergic subscores [P = .001]) and greater global cognitive function impairment (P = .041). Neither cognitive functions nor clinical features were associated with reduced intake of vitamin D and sunlight exposure. CONCLUSION: : Serum 25(OH)D was negatively correlated with disease and symptoms severity, as well as with global cognitive functions. Our study adds to the evidence that low 25(OH)D may affect the progression of PD negatively. Intervention studies in this area are required.

Acute and repeated haemoperitoneum: a challenging case of lymphangioleiomyomatosis with uterine PEComa.

A 39-year-old woman presented in the emergency ward for abdominal pain and acute anemiation. Abdominal-thoracic CT scan showed haemoperitoneum, with a parauterine mass and a pathological pulmonary pattern suspicious for lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a systemic disease belonging to perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComas). Gynaecological ultrasound showed a hypoechoic irregular solid mass of the uterine right wall. Ultrasonographic virtual organ computer-aided analysis showed the mass completely formed by arteriovenous vessels, and that allowed distinction from leiomyosarcoma. Repeated haemoperitoneum required uterine artery embolisation. Mass revascularisation occurred in the following 7 days. A laparotomic hysterectomy with removal of the uterus and right parametrium was performed in epidural analgesia. Histological features were consistent with the diagnosis of uterine PEComa of uncertain malignant features, in the presence of coexisting pulmonary LAM. In women with LAM, acute haemoperitoneum may indicate the presence of a uterine PEComa whose diagnosis can be challenging.