Published online Feb 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i6.696
Peer-review started: December 8, 2018
First decision: December 28, 2018
Revised: January 14, 2018
Accepted: January 18, 2019
Article in press: January 18, 2019
Published online: February 14, 2019
Processing time: 69 Days and 15.9 Hours
Rectosigmoid endometriosis is an underdiagnosed disease responsible for abdominal pain, transit disorders and rectal bleeding. Two surgical approaches, rectosigmoid bowel resection (segmental or patch) or intramuscular layer dissection (shaving), are available.
To assess whether the lesion features observed via preoperative rectosigmoid endoscopic ultrasonography (RS-EUS) might predict the need for bowel resection.
This multicentric retrospective study was conducted on patients with rectosigmoid endometriosis who underwent a curative surgical procedure, evaluated by RS-EUS performed by two trained operators, between January 2012 and March 2018. A univariate statistical analysis was performed on nodules’ RS-EUS features (thickness, width, infiltration of the submucosae, presence of a bump into the digestive lumen and presence of multiple rectosigmoid localizations). A multivariate logistic regression was then performed on the significant results.
Of the 367 patients, 73 patients with rectosigmoid endometriosis were evaluated by RS-EUS and underwent rectosigmoid surgery. After the univariate analysis was completed, thickness, width and infiltration of the submucosae were identified as potential predictive factors for bowel resection. In a multivariate logistic regression model, only thickness appeared to be a significant [odds ratio (OR) = 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-2.12, P = 0.028] predictive factor for bowel resection. Receiver operating characteristic analysis performed showed that a thickness over 5.20 mm might be used as cut-off with a sensitivity of 76%, a specificity of 81%, and an area under carve = 0.82. The cut-off values for 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity were 0.90 mm and 10.00 mm, respectively. A trend concerning width to predict the need for resection was also observed (OR 1.12, 95%CI: 1.00-1.26, P = 0.054)
The presence of a rectosigmoid nodule of endometriosis greater than 5.20 mm thick on RS-EUS might predict the need for bowel resection.
Core tip: Rectosigmoid endometriosis is an underdiagnosed disease responsible for abdominal pain, transit disorders and rectal bleeding. The treatment can be either medical or surgical. If a surgical resection of the bowel is needed, it must be performed by a multidisciplinary team. The aim of our study was to assess whether the lesion features observed via preoperative rectosigmoid endoscopic ultrasonography (RS-EUS), a key exam in this condition, might predict the need for bowel resection. We found that the presence of a rectosigmoid nodule of endometriosis greater than 5.20 mm thick on RS-EUS might predict the need for bowel resection.