Assessment of Duration of Sliding Sign in Routine Pelvic Ultrasound Studies

This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the uterine sliding sign in routine pelvic ultrasound examinations for improving the diagnosis of deep endometriosis. A retrospective analysis was conducted at Mayo Clinic's Florida and Arizona campuses, including 200 premenopausal and perimenopausal women with chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or suspected endometriosis. Sonographers performed a uterine sliding maneuver during transvaginal ultrasound, and the acquisition times were recorded. Sonographer experience and the time required to perform the sliding sign were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The median acquisition time for the uterine sliding sign was 26 seconds, with no statistically significant difference based on sonographer experience. The addition of this maneuver extended the ultrasound examination by <1 minute on average, regardless of sonographer experience level. Incorporating the uterine sliding sign into routine pelvic ultrasound protocols is a quick and efficient method that enhances the detection of deep endometriosis, potentially reducing the significant diagnostic delay associated with endometriosis. This study supports the feasibility and minimal time impact of implementing the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU) recommendations for augmented pelvic ultrasound in clinical practice.