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 (105% En = 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. (C) 2018 AAGL. All rights reserved.