Deep infiltrating endometriosis of the rectovaginal septum – an interdisciplinary problem

Abstract

Endometriosis refers to the ectopic localization of the uterine glandular epithelium, which can infiltrate all peritoneal cavity organs as well as, though less commonly, distant locations. One of its most severe forms is deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) of the rectovaginal septum. In cases of DIE, the infiltration may involve the vagina, uterus, rectum, and the area of anal sphincters and pelvic floor muscles. The condition causes a variety of pain symptoms, including dyspareunia and dyschezia, and other intestinal complaints, significantly impairing the quality of a woman’s life. Important elements of the diagnostic work-up include obtaining the patient’s detailed history followed by transvaginal and transrectal examinations. Additional examinations recommended in patient assessment are transvaginal and transrectal ultrasonography, and MRI. The sensitivity and specificity of the methods may reach 91 and 98%, respectively. The combination of these diagnostic modalities significantly increases the rate of diagnosis, reducing the time to the start of treatment which, at present, is on average 7 years. The main management methods for DIE include pharmacotherapy and surgical treatment complemented by an appropriate diet, physiotherapy and psychotherapy. Hormone treatment markedly reduces pain, contributing to an improvement in the quality of life, and causes slight changes in the size of endometriotic lesions, which is associated with the relapse of symptoms after the discontinuation of medication. Surgical methods allow radical removal of lesions, but may cause significant complications, adversely affecting the function of the intestine, bladder, anal sphincters, and other body organs. In each case, the choice of optimum treatment should be adjusted individually to the patient based on the experience of the multidisciplinary team.