Endometriosis Mapping Ultrasound: Advancing Diagnosis and Patient Care

Diagnosing endometriosis can be challenging, particularly when symptoms persist despite routine testing. Traditional pelvic ultrasounds primarily focus on the uterus and ovaries to identify structural abnormalities such as fibroids and ovarian cysts. While valuable for evaluating a range of gynecologic conditions, routine pelvic ultrasound is not specifically designed to assess the areas of the pelvis where endometriosis commonly occurs.

To address this, Daniel Nassar, DO, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine and gynecologic surgeon sonologist at UC San Diego Health, has introduced Endometriosis Mapping Ultrasound (EMU), a specialized imaging approach, into his clinical practice at UC San Diego Health. The comprehensive approach follows a protocol developed by the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis (IDEA) Group and systematically evaluates the anterior, middle and posterior compartments of the pelvis for both direct and indirect evidence of endometriosis. The examination includes structures such as the rectum and sigmoid colon, bladder, ureters and uterosacral ligaments, allowing clinicians to assess common forms of endometriosis, including ovarian and superficial disease.