Table 4 Preoperative assessment

Clinical examination and TV scan [20]

Not described [21]

Clinical examination and TV scan [22]

Laparoscopy 60 %, EUA 70 %, colonoscopy 13 % [barium enema, TV scan, and endorectal ultrasound], rarely used [23]

Clinical examination, proctosigmoidoscopy [24]

All women underwent both MRI and endorectal ultrasound [25]

Clinical examination, TV scan, rectal endoscopy [26]

Clinical examination, barium enema [27]

Clinical examination, TVS, TRUS, barium enema, and MRI [28]

Clinical examination, MRI, rectal US, CT scan (if indicated) [29]

MRI, endorectal ultrasound [30]

Not mentioned [31]

Clinical examination and endorectal ultrasound [32]

Staging laparoscopy and rectal examination [33]

Not mentioned [34]

Clinical examination, TV scans [35]

Ultrasound and laparoscopy and then referred if bowel endometriosis has been diagnosed [36]

Clinical examination, TV scan and endorectal ultrasound, MRI, and colonoscopy [37]

Clinical examination, TV scans, MRI, endorectal ultrasound [38]

Initial diagnostic laparoscopy, MRI, TV scan [39]

Clinical examination, TV scan, endorectal ultrasound, double contrast barium enema [40]

Clinical examination, TV scan, barium enema with double contrast, IVP [41]

Clinical examination, CA125, TV scan, endorectal ultrasound, MRI, and double contrast barium meal [42]

All patients were referred with a diagnosis of bowel endometriosis by previous laparoscopy [43]

Clinical examination, barium enema, and sigmoidoscopy [44]

Clinical examination, TV scan+/−MRI, colonoscopy [45]

Clinical examination, barium studies, MRI, CT or endoscopic evaluation. A questionnaire (visual analogue) used before or after surgery [46]

Laparoscopy in all the cases [47]

Clinical examination, TV scan, MRI [detect 80.8 %], colonoscopy [detect 43.2 %], and endorectal ultrasound [48]

Clinical examination, TV scan and endorectal ultrasound, MRI, and double contrast barium enema [49]

Clinical examination, selective MRI, and barium enema. Some referred after initial laparoscopy [50]

Clinical examination, TV scan, double contrast barium enema, visual analogue [51]

Not described [52]

Clinical examination, all of them had at least one laparoscopy before [53]

Clinical examination, radiological (not specified), laparoscopy [54]

Preoperative laparoscopy in the majority, colonoscopy performed on an individual basis [55]