Mira Rehal

Mira Rehal is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Södersjukhuset and a doctoral candidate at the Department of Clinical Research and Education, Karolinska Institutet (KI SöS). Her research encompasses various aspects of ultrasound diagnostics in gynecological conditions, including endometriosis and ovarian pathology, as well as the long-term effects of endometriosis surgery on patients’ quality of life.

Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age and is associated with chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, psychological comorbidities, impaired work capacity, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Surgical management of deep endometriosis is considered when medical treatment fails or is deemed inappropriate. However, surgical excision of deep endometriosis is often complicated by adhesions and anatomical distortion, making a meticulous preoperative diagnostic workup essential.

This project aims to further investigate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical value of transvaginal ultrasound, as well as the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in the preoperative planning of surgery for deep endometriosis.

Accurate diagnostic evaluation of adnexal masses is also critical for assessing malignancy risk and guiding decisions between expectant and active management strategies for different types of lesions. Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tools may serve as a valuable adjunct, with the potential to function as a second reader. We aim to evaluate how AI-assisted decision support can influence workflow, patient safety, and clinicians’ diagnostic confidence.

Previous studies have demonstrated improvements in HRQoL following endometriosis surgery, both in the short term and up to seven years postoperatively, with women affected by deep infiltrating endometriosis potentially benefiting the most. However, robust long-term data from large prospective cohorts stratified by disease stage and surgical approach remain limited. Our research aims to provide evidence on the long-term effects of endometriosis surgery on patient-reported outcomes.

Mira Rehal has been actively involved in undergraduate medical education, contributing through lectures, seminars, practical training sessions, bedside teaching, and assessment of students via practical examinations and oral presentations. She has also participated in the education and supervision of exchange students.