Fusion Imaging: A Novel Diagnostic Tool for Nerve-sparing Surgery for Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis

Preoperative imaging of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is key for correct diagnosis, evaluation, and plan for surgery. Although an ultrasound is highly accurate for the identification of widespread endometriosis in expert hands, there are some intrinsic limitations, which include the challenge in visualizing endometriosis involvement of peripheral nerves. Because pelvic nerves are not visible on ultrasound but clearly visible in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, fusion imaging, a real-time virtual sonography, can help evaluate the extent of endometriosis in peripheral nerves. [...]