The aim of the study is to assess the contribution of MR of the pelvis in the modern diagnosis of endometriosis andto refer to the problems connected withthediagnosis.Nineteenwomenwithsuspected endometriosis or other diagnosis further confirmed as endometriosis were included in the study. The examinations were carried out with Gyrex V DLX 0,5 T (Elscint comp) equipment with following sequences: axial and sagital fast spin echo T2 w.i., axial and coronal spin echo T1 w.i. and fat supressed STIR sequences. Postcontrast T1 w.i. (Gd-DTPA 0,2 mmol/kg body weight) did not prove to be of any benefit. Results were correlated with laparoscopy or laparotomy. Authors had 10 correct results including one case of dermoidale cyst, one false positive result of salpingoophoritis with adhesions, one false negative result of stromal endometriosis on the anterior wall of rectum and 7 cases which were not confirmed (the patients were not operated on). Authors depicted even very small lesions up to 15 mm in diameter at multiple endometriosis. The main contribution ofMRI of pelvis at the examination of endometriosis is the posibility to depict multiple and small lesions before laparoscopic operation. Non uniform signal on T1 and T2w.i. could be taken as the main drawback of the method due to the presence of hemoglobin derivatives of different age (deoxyhemoglobin, intracelular and extracelular methemoglobin, hemosiderin).

        Key words: endometriosis – MRI of pelvis – derivatives of hemoglobin in MR image – differential diagnostic problems