Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with severe endo a few months ago, waiting on my op. At the time, my MRI suggested a 15cm endometrioma on the left and a 4cm endometrioma on the right. I was rushed to another hospital on Friday in severe pain, kept in for observation and put forward for a referral to an endo specialist centre. At hospital they did a CAT scan which found a couple of things I find interesting, and just wondered if anyone has any insight? While they're quite sure the left is an endometrioma (up to 19cm) there seems to be a question mark over the right with the report stating "the right sided cysts / endometriomas are not well deliniated, but are likely smaller than previously". I'm just curious about the significance of delineation and also about whether endometriomas have been known to shrink?
Can endometriomas shrink? : Hi everyone. I... - Endometriosis UK
Can endometriomas shrink?
Yes endometriomas can shrink if you are on hormone therapy (contraceptive pill or other types).
At my last scan (ultrasound) I had a 2 cm cyst and the sonographer said that she could only 'identify' it as an endometrioma due to my past medical history (I had had an endometrioma removed from that ovary 2 months previously, my pain had returned, so she could safely presume it had grown back). So when they are small, it's not always possible to distinguish between a fluid filled cyst and a blood filled cyst. Thats why they have said cysts/endometrioma.
The deliniation comment just means that it wasn't possible to see the edges clearly on the scan (likely because the cyst(s) were so small and/or it was a CAT rather than ultrasound)
My 'bad' ovary was the same size as my normal one, despite the 2 cm endometrioma, so it might be they measured your ovary and determined that it can no longer contain an endometrioma of 4 cm, as it isn't big enough.
Will you now be having an operation to remove the 19 cm endometrioma/ovary? I can't imagine how much pain you must be in - that's huge!!!!!
I know, I nearly fell over when they told me the size. I was rushed to hospital on Friday morning in extreme pain on that side. They have said they cant completely rule out torsion/detorsion. My ultrasound in Jan said 10cm on the left and 8cm on the right...MRI in March said it was 14 or 15cm and that was big enough (and 4cm on the right)! Lots of pain, for sure - I have pain medication and basically just lie down a lot. I am hopeful the severity of this means surgery will be sped up now that I at least seem to be being taken seriously. I am also so hopeful the right ovary is in better shape as I want to at least have a chance of having kids.
Thanks for the info - it is so awful not knowing what is happening inside your body, isn't it? I was put on the pill (only after I asked to be!) after my operation was cancelled in March and told it was "not an emergency" (which I would dispute pretty strongly tbh) at the hospital I was previously treated at. I was also told the cysts wouldn't grow while I waited. I have come to the conclusion that my former gynos didnt really know what to do with me, but with a referral to specialists I feel I am actually (hopefully) going to turn the corner.
