Endometrioma

Changed by Bruno Di Muzio, 12 Jun 2016

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Endometriomas,also known as a chocolate cysts or endometriotic cysts, are a localised form of endometriosis and are usually within the ovary. They are readily diagnosed on ultrasound, with most demonstrating classical radiographic features. 

Epidemiology

These occur women of reproductive age.

Pathology

Endometriomas contains dark degenerated blood products following repeated cyclical haemorrhage. The cysts may be up to 20 cm in size although they are usually smaller (2-5 cm).

Location

Typical locations include:

  • ovaries: ~75%
  • anterior/posterior cul-de-sac: ~70%
  • posterior broad ligament: ~50%
  • uterosacral ligaments: ~35%
  • uterus: ~10 %
  • colon: ~5%

Radiographic features

Plain filmradiograph

Not usually helpful in diagnosis; ~10% of endometriomas can calcify.

Ultrasound

The appearances of endometriomas can be quite variable.

The classical example is of an unilocular cyst with acoustic enhancement with diffuse homogeneous ground-glass echoes as a result of the haemorrhagic debris. This appearance occurs in 50% of cases 7.

Less typical features include 7:

  • multiple locules (~85% will have <5 locules)
  • hyperechoic wall foci (present in 35%)
  • cystic-solid lesion (~15%) or purely solid lesion (1%)
  • anechoic cysts (rare; 2%)
MRI

Signal characteristics vary according to the age of any complicating haemorrhage 6:

  • T1
    • typically, lesions appear hyperintense while acute haemorrhage occasionally appears hypointense
    • endometriomas with high T1 signal characteristically do not show loss of signal on T1 fat suppressed sequence, which is important to differentiate from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary
  • T2
    • typically hypointense owing to the presence of deoxyhaemoglobin and methaemoglobin (shading sign), which is very suggestive of endometrioma 3
    • T2 dark spot sign is specific for chronic haemorrhage and is helpful in diagnosing endometriomas 9
    • old haemorrhage occasionally appears hyperintense
  • DWI
    • variable restricted diffusion
  • T1C+
    • may have wall enhancement, but no enhancing mural nodules

Treatment and prognosis

Although endometriomas are usually a benign entity, there is an ~1% rate of malignant transformation. Endometrioid tumorstumours of the ovary and clear cell adenocarcinoma are the most common histological pattern seen 8. They are mostly seen in women >40 years after several years of latency, with endometriomas larger than 9 cm 4-5.  Malignant transformation is uncommon in masses <6 cm.

If not surgically excised, follow-up should be at least yearly 4. GnRH agonists may be used for medical management.

Differential diagnosis

General imaging differential considerations include:

  • -<p><strong>Endometriomas</strong>,<strong> </strong>also known as a <strong>chocolate cysts</strong> or <strong>endometriotic cysts</strong>, are a localised form of <a href="/articles/endometriosis">endometriosis</a> and are usually within the <a href="/articles/ovaries">ovary</a>. They are readily diagnosed on ultrasound, with most demonstrating classical radiographic features. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>These occur women of reproductive age.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Endometriomas contains dark degenerated blood products following repeated cyclical haemorrhage. The cysts may be up to 20 cm in size although they are usually smaller (2-5 cm).</p><h5>Location</h5><p>Typical locations include:</p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Endometriomas</strong>,<strong> </strong>also known as <strong>chocolate cysts</strong> or <strong>endometriotic cysts</strong>, are a localised form of <a href="/articles/endometriosis">endometriosis</a> and are usually within the <a href="/articles/ovaries">ovary</a>. They are readily diagnosed on ultrasound, with most demonstrating classical radiographic features. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>These occur women of reproductive age.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Endometriomas contains dark degenerated blood products following repeated cyclical haemorrhage. The cysts may be up to 20 cm in size although they are usually smaller (2-5 cm).</p><h5>Location</h5><p>Typical locations include:</p><ul>
  • -</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain film</h5><p>Not usually helpful in diagnosis; ~10% of endometriomas can calcify.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>The appearances of endometriomas can be quite variable.</p><p>The classical example is of an unilocular cyst with acoustic enhancement with diffuse homogeneous ground-glass echoes as a result of the haemorrhagic debris. This appearance occurs in 50% of cases <sup>7</sup>.</p><p>Less typical features include <sup>7</sup>:</p><ul>
  • +</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>Not usually helpful in diagnosis; ~10% of endometriomas can calcify.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>The appearances of endometriomas can be quite variable. The classical example is an unilocular cyst with acoustic enhancement with diffuse homogeneous ground-glass echoes as a result of the haemorrhagic debris. This appearance occurs in 50% of cases <sup>7</sup>.</p><p>Less typical features include <sup>7</sup>:</p><ul>
  • -</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Although endometriomas are usually a benign entity, there is an ~1% rate of malignant transformation. Endometrioid tumors of the ovary and clear cell adenocarcinoma are the most common histological pattern seen <sup>8</sup>. They are mostly seen in women &gt;40 years after several years of latency, with endometriomas larger than 9 cm <sup>4-5</sup>.  Malignant transformation is uncommon in masses &lt;6 cm.</p><p>If not surgically excised, follow-up should be at least yearly <sup>4</sup>. GnRH agonists may be used for medical management.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>General imaging differential considerations include:</p><ul>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/haemorrhagic-ovarian-cyst">haemorrhagic ovarian cyst</a></li>
  • +</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Although endometriomas are usually a benign entity, there is an ~1% rate of malignant transformation. Endometrioid tumours of the ovary and clear cell adenocarcinoma are the most common histological pattern seen <sup>8</sup>. They are mostly seen in women &gt;40 years after several years of latency, with endometriomas larger than 9 cm <sup>4-5</sup>.  Malignant transformation is uncommon in masses &lt;6 cm.</p><p>If not surgically excised, follow-up should be at least yearly <sup>4</sup>. GnRH agonists may be used for medical management.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>General imaging differential considerations include:</p><ul>
  • -<a href="/articles/mature-cystic-ovarian-teratoma">ovarian dermoid cyst</a>: will show fat suppression on fat suppressed sequences on MRI</li>
  • +<a href="/articles/haemorrhagic-ovarian-cyst">haemorrhagic ovarian cyst</a><ul>
  • +<li>brighter on T2-weighted images</li>
  • +<li>absence of the "shading sign"</li>
  • +</ul>
  • +</li>
  • +<li>
  • +<a href="/articles/mature-cystic-ovarian-teratoma">ovarian dermoid cyst</a><ul><li>will show fat suppression on fat suppressed sequences on MRI</li></ul>
  • +</li>

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