Observational Study on the Use of Ultrasound to Recognize Superficial Endometriosis in a Specific Area of the Pelvis (the Uterosacral Ligaments)

Inclusion Criteria: * patients who need to undergo gynecological surgery with a laparoscopic approach for benign pathology (endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, chronic pelvic pain, benign ovarian cysts) or non-advanced malignant pathology (stage I endometrium and cervix, stage I and II ovary). * patients who performed a level II gynecological ultrasound with an experienced operator in the preoperative pathway. * technical possibility of performing a transvaginal ultrasound and the patient's willingness to undergo such an investigation. * patients of childbearing age (18 - 50 years). * Signing of informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * presence of endometriosis deeply infiltrating the posterior compartment. This may interfere with the interpretation of uterosacral ligament (LUS) thickness as a specific marker of superficial endometriosis * technical impossibility of performing a transvaginal ultrasound (patient virgo, patient refusal). * incomplete ultrasound evaluation of the uterosacral ligaments for anatomical reasons or for the presence of endometriosis nodules from other sites with partial involvement of the LUS (uterosacral ligament). * advanced malignant disease (\>Stage I for endometrium and cervix, \> Stage II for ovary) * pelvic organ prolapse * PID or other pelvic inflammatory diseases * medical emergencies (ovarian torsion, hemoperitoneum) * postmenopausal patients * previous pelvic surgery