Functional Evaluation of Brain Pain Centers in Endometriosis-Associated Chronic Pelvic Pain Exploring the Impact of Central Sensitization Using a Novel MRI Technique

Overview

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, affecting about 10% of reproductive-age women. It is commonly associated with chronic pelvic pain, present in 40-50% of women with persistent pelvic pain and 30-40% of infertile women. The condition contributes to chronic pain through mechanisms like inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, neuroangiogenesis, and central sensitization. Central sensitization involves changes in brain function and can be assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While studies have shown the role of brain changes in chronic pain for conditions like migraine and fibromyalgia, research on pain chronicization in endometriosis is limited. This study focuses on evaluating functional changes in brain pain centers associated with endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain using neuroimaging. The goal is to enhance understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic pain and emphasize the potential of MRI in guiding more effective management strategies for endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease defined by the presence of endometrial stroma and glands outside the uterus. It affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age and is detected in 40-50% of women experiencing persistent pelvic pain and 30-40% of infertile women. Clinically classified as an inflammatory and systemic disease, endometriosis often manifests as pelvic pain. It is believed that endometriosis contributes to chronic pelvic pain through mechanisms such as inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, neuroangiogenesis, peripheral sensitization, central sensitization, and cross-organ sensitization. Central sensitization can be identified by evaluating functional changes in the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of brain functional changes in the chronicization of pain in various conditions, including migraine, fibromyalgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and chronic lower back pain. However, there are limited MRI studies investigating the chronicization of pain associated with endometriosis. In this study, we aim to highlight the benefits of neuroimaging in elucidating the pathophysiology of chronic pain by examining the functional changes in brain pain centers in chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis.