Which procedure is commonly used to diagnose endometriosis?

• A. Hysteroscopy
• B. Transvaginal ultrasound
• C. Laparoscopy
• D. MRI

Answer: (C)

Direct visualization of the pelvis is the most reliable way to diagnose endometriosis. Laparoscopy allows the surgeon to inspect the peritoneal surfaces and pelvic organs for endometriotic implants that imaging often misses, and to obtain tissue biopsies to confirm the diagnosis under a microscope. This combination of visual assessment and histologic confirmation makes laparoscopy the standard approach for diagnosing endometriosis.

Imaging and other procedures have supportive roles but aren’t definitive. Hysteroscopy looks inside the uterine cavity and doesn’t reveal pelvic implants. Transvaginal ultrasound can identify ovarian endometriomas and some deep lesions but may miss small peritoneal implants. MRI can map the extent of deeply infiltrating disease but still relies on histology for a definitive diagnosis.