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Many women face prolonged delays—often spanning several years—before receiving a diagnosis for endometriosis. However, researchers at Oxford University have piloted a novel scanning technique that may facilitate earlier detection of this condition. The new approach combines CT scans with a molecular tracer to identify early-stage endometriosis, which traditional imaging methods frequently miss.
Endometriosis affects approximately one in ten women in the UK and is characterized by cells resembling the uterine lining growing outside the womb. Symptoms vary widely and can be severe, including heavy menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain, and extreme fatigue. Because these signs can mimic other ailments, many women undergo a range of tests, such as ultrasounds and MRI scans, which generally detect only more advanced stages of the disease. Dr Tatjana Gibbons, lead investigator of the study, explains that current imaging often fails to reveal underlying issues in those experiencing symptoms, leading to normal scan results despite ongoing pain. She emphasizes, “Getting a diagnosis earlier can help people make decisions and plans about their life.”
One person intimately familiar with this challenge is Gabriella Pearson, co-founder of the charity Menstrual Health Project. Diagnosed at 23 after more than a decade of worsening symptoms and several misdiagnoses, Gabriella reflects on her experience: “If I had been listened to and diagnosed earlier I would have been in a very different position now.” Gabriella’s endometriosis has caused damage to her bowel, bladder, and ovary, complicating her life in multiple ways including impacting her education and career ambitions. She recalls how her symptoms initially were dismissed as normal or attributed to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or stress. Only after persistent visits to doctors and an invasive ultrasound—“which was very painful”—did she receive a likely diagnosis from her GP. Later, surgery through laparoscopy confirmed the condition, but the entire process was long and difficult.
The Oxford pilot study involved 19 participants with suspected or confirmed endometriosis who underwent CT scans alongside injections of a tracer called maraciclatide. This tracer binds to areas associated with new blood vessel formation, a process implicated in early disease development. Results showed the method correctly identified endometriosis in 16 participants and confirmed 14 of 17 surgical cases. Dr Gibbons described the findings as “exciting,” noting the potential the technique has for detecting superficial peritoneal endometriosis—the most common but hardest type to diagnose. Dr Lucy Whitaker, a gynaecologist researching imaging techniques at the University of Edinburgh, praised the study’s preliminary results, calling them “really exciting” and highlighting the urgent need for non-invasive diagnostic tools. She also pointed out that radiation exposure from the scans should be carefully weighed against the risks presented by surgical diagnosis. The study was published in Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health and conducted by the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health in partnership with Serac Healthcare
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