Oxford Pilot Study Shows 84% Endometriosis Detection Accuracy

A pilot study from the University of Oxford has shown promising results for a new noninvasive imaging technique that could enable earlier detection of endometriosis, a condition affecting about one in 10 women worldwide.

The DETECT trial, led by researchers at the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health in collaboration with Serac Healthcare, involved 19 women with confirmed or suspected endometriosis. Participants received an injection of maraciclatide, a molecular tracer that binds to proteins involved in new blood vessel formation, a hallmark of early disease growth. A subsequent SPECT-CT scan highlighted inflamed areas or lesions, correctly identifying the presence or absence of endometriosis in 16 cases, or 84 percent. Among 17 women who underwent confirmatory laparoscopy, the technique detected lesions in 14, including superficial peritoneal endometriosis, the most common yet hardest-to-spot form, and two rare instances of thoracic endometriosis.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the womb lining grows in other areas, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvis or chest, leading to inflammation and bleeding with no escape route. Common symptoms...