GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

This research explores how ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) collaborate in diagnosing endometriosis, a condition where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, commonly in the pelvic area, such as ovaries, fallopian tubes, ligaments, and peritoneum. It may even affect the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts. Possible causes include the backflow of endometrial-like tissue during menstruation or spread via the bloodstream. Symptoms include nausea, infertility, abnormal bleeding, and painful cramps. Transvaginal ultrasound is a widely used, non-invasive, and accurate diagnostic tool, but it has limitations, especially in visualizing deep endometriosis (DIE). MRI, another non-invasive and accurate modality, is better at detecting both DIE and ovarian endometriomas, making it the first choice for some. While ultrasound has its advantages, it cannot match MRI’s ability to differentiate soft tissues and structures like bones. These two imaging methods should be used together to overcome their individual limitations, with ultrasound potentially gaining equal recognition as MRI in future research.