What do endometrioma, kissing ovaries, and sliding sign mean?

An endometrioma is an ovarian cyst that often has a classic “ground-glass” appearance on ultrasound, which can be consistent with endometriosis involving the ovary. While imaging can strongly suggest an endometrioma, it doesn’t always show the full extent of disease elsewhere in the pelvis.

“​​Kissing ovaries” describes ovaries positioned very close together, often behind the uterus, which can happen when endometriosis-related scarring or adhesions pull structures out of their normal alignment. The “sliding sign” refers to whether pelvic organs glide smoothly against each other during the ultrasound; a negative sliding sign can suggest adhesions and reduced mobility. When a report mentions deep hypoechoic nodules, it may indicate deeper disease that can involve structures like the bowel or bladder—information we use to plan the most complete and safe surgical approach, and we can review your images and report with you in a consultation.