Diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography (TVS) for non-invasive diagnosis of rectosigmoidal endometriosis – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to critically analyze the diagnostic value of TVS for non-invasive, presurgical detection of bowel endometriosis. Methods: MEDLINE (1966–2010) and EMBASE (1980–2010) databases were searched for relevant studies investigating the diagnostic accuracy of TVS for diagnosing deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) involving the bowel. Diagnosis was established by laparoscopy and/or histopathological analysis. Likelihood ratios (LHR's) were recalculated in addition to traditional measures of effectiveness. Results: Out of 188 papers, a total of 10 studies fulfilled predefined inclusi…