A new scanning technique could help diagnose endometriosis earlier.
New imaging technique could speed up diagnosis of endometriosis
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a method using specialised CT scans combined with a molecular tracer that may detect early signs of the condition, which often go unnoticed with standard imaging.
Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women in the UK, but diagnosis can take an average of nine years due to symptoms overlapping with other conditions and limitations in current testing methods.
The pilot study found the technique was able to correctly identify the presence or absence of endometriosis in 16 out of 19 participants.
It also detected 14 of 17 cases later confirmed through surgery, suggesting potential for earlier and more accurate diagnosis if validated in larger trials.
Lead researcher Dr Tatjana Gibbons told The BBC: “This means many struggle with symptoms, despite being told they have normal imaging results.”
She added: “Getting a diagnosis earlier can help people make decisions and plans about their life.”
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body, often causing severe pain, fatigue and fertility issues.
Current diagnosis typically relies on a laparoscopy, an invasive surgical procedure, which can take years to access.
The new technique uses a tracer called maraciclatide, which highlights areas where new blood vessels are forming, a key feature of early-stage disease.
Dr Gibbons said the findings are “exciting”.
She explained the method “offers a highly promising diagnostic and monitoring tool, particularly for superficial peritoneal endometriosis which is the most common and yet the hardest type of endometriosis to identify”.
Dr Lucy Whitaker, a gynaecologist and researcher at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the study, added: “This is a really exciting preliminary data that needs further studies.
"If confirmed, that gives us a real opportunity to intervene at an earlier stage - and help people get a diagnosis and potentially consider treatment earlier on.”
Patient advocates say earlier diagnosis could significantly improve quality of life, as many people currently face years of pain, misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.