Diagnostic performance of MRI and transvaginal ultrasound for urinary tract endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

What was studied

This review compared 2 imaging tests for urinary tract endometriosis. The tests were transvaginal ultrasound and MRI. They looked at the ureter and the bladder. The team searched PubMed, Embase and Scopus up to December 2025. Surgery served as the reference. Results were pooled.

What they found

For the ureter, ultrasound had sensitivity of 0.89 and specificity of 1.00. MRI had sensitivity of 0.96 and specificity of 1.00. For the bladder, ultrasound had sensitivity of 0.70 and specificity of 1.00. MRI had sensitivity of 0.77 and specificity of 0.99. Results differed a lot between studies, mostly for sensitivity.

What it means for patients

The team says both tests have excellent specificity. MRI has slightly higher sensitivity for the ureter. Both have moderate sensitivity for the bladder. They back a site-specific mix of both tests, with care over negative results.

Why it is not certain yet

Differences between studies were large. This was most true for sensitivity. The range for MRI sensitivity in the ureter was wide. It ran from 0.50 to 1.00. A review can only be as good as the studies in it.

Source

Diagnostic performance of MRI and transvaginal ultrasound for urinary tract endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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