This white paper presents a prospective clinical study comparing MV-Flow™ and power Doppler ultrasound for assessing vascularization in rectal endometriosis. Conducted at a tertiary care hospital, the study involved 30 premenopausal women diagnosed with deep rectal endometriosis affecting the rectum. Using transvaginal ultrasound in conjunction with both imaging techniques, vascularization levels of the rectal lesions were evaluated to understand the vascular characteristics of rectal endometriosis.
Power Doppler detected minimal or no vascularization in 100% of cases, aligning with conventional views that rectal endometriotic nodules are poorly vascularized. However, MV-Flow™, a microvascular flow imaging technique, identified moderate to abundant vascularization in 67% of cases, showcasing its superior sensitivity in detecting small vessels with low-velocity blood flow. This technology uses a lower pulse repetition frequency and higher frame rate to capture detailed microvascular structures, overcoming the limitations of conventional Doppler methods.
The study found statistically significant differences in vascular scores between the two methods, challenging the prevailing belief that these lesions lack significant vascularization. This breakthrough suggests that MV-Flow™ could redefine the vascular assessment of deep rectal endometriosis, potentially influencing future diagnostics, treatment responses, and monitoring strategies.
These findings underline the role of MV-Flow™ in advancing the understanding of endometriosis, opening avenues for further research into the disease’s progression, treatment efficacy, and recurrence risk.
For a step-by-step guide on how to use MV-Flow™, refer to the MV-Flow™ Quick Guide .
