New technology may reduce the years women wait for an endometriosis diagnosis
technology may reduce: A new scan technique may reduce the time women wait for an endometriosis diagnosis by detecting areas of the condition that conventional scans often miss, according to a pilot study conducted at Oxford University. This technology combines CT scans with a molecular tracer to identify early endometriosis, potentially allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Challenges in diagnosing endometriosis
Endometriosis affects approximately one in ten women in the UK and involves cells similar to those lining the womb growing outside the uterus. Symptoms can be severe and varied, including heavy periods, extreme tiredness, and abdominal pain, often resembling other health issues. Currently, it takes an average of nine years for women to receive a diagnosis.
Standard diagnostic methods include ultrasounds and MRI scans, but these often fail to detect early-stage endometriosis, mainly identifying changes associated with more advanced disease. As a result, many women experience symptoms despite normal imaging results, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
Gabriella Pearson, co-founder of the Menstrual Health Project, shared her experience of living with endometriosis for over a decade before diagnosis. She highlighted the impact of delayed diagnosis on her health, career, and quality of life, emphasizing the need for more accurate and less invasive diagnostic tools.
Details of the new scan technique
The study involved 19 participants with confirmed or suspected endometriosis who underwent CT scans combined with an injection of a molecular tracer called maraciclatide. This tracer binds to areas where new blood vessels form, a process believed to be crucial in early endometriosis development.
The new technique correctly identified the presence or absence of endometriosis in 16 of the 19 participants and detected 14 of the 17 cases later confirmed by surgery. This method shows promise, especially for detecting superficial peritoneal endometriosis, the most common and difficult type to diagnose.
Currently, the definitive diagnosis of endometriosis requires laparoscopy, a surgical procedure involving a small camera inserted into the abdomen. This procedure can take years to be scheduled and carries risks associated with surgery.
Expert opinions and future implications
Dr. Lucy Whitaker, a gynaecologist and researcher not involved in the study, noted the urgent need for new non-invasive imaging techniques. She described the preliminary results as exciting and emphasized the potential for earlier intervention and treatment if the findings are confirmed in larger studies.
The new scanning method could also help monitor disease progression and evaluate treatment effectiveness. However, Dr. Whitaker pointed out that the scans involve radiation exposure, which must be weighed against the risks of surgical diagnosis.
The research was published in the journal Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health and led by the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Serac Healthcare.