Extragenital Endometriosis

Abstract

Extra-genital endometriosisBACKGROUND: Even if endometriosis is usually an exclusively gynecological issue, atypical locations fall within the interest of general surgery. The aim of our retrospective study focuses on the need for surgeons to face this rare condition, in order to avoid unnecessary or inadequate treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical presentations, previous endometriosis diagnosis and surgical acts on a group of 60 patients, whose mean age was 38.2 years old, with extra-genital endometriosis.RESULTS: Among the 60 cases of extra-genital endometriosis collected, bowel foci, 37 cases -61,7% -were the most frequent; then we collected 13 (21.7%) skin, 7 (11.7%) urinary tract and 3 (5%) whole pelvis localizations. It's important to underline the finding of 2 aggressive malignant transformations. CONCLUSIONS: Extra-genital endometriosis should be considered as a cause of otherwise inexplicable abdominal pain in young women. Since imaging techniques lack in specificity, we propose explorative laparoscopy as a powerful diagnostic means. Moreover laparoscopy can be turned into a therapeutic act, also limiting the adherences issue, which is associated with this illness and would worsen with open surgery. Extra-genital endometriosis should be treated also to avoid rare, but possible, risk of cancerization.

Scar endometriosis—a gynaecologic pathology often presented to the general surgeon rather than the gynaecologist: report of two cases

“…Endometriosis occurring outside the pelvic cavity is relatively an uncommon disease. In approximately 12% of women with endometriosis, the lesions are encountered at extrapelvic locations [5].…”

Endometrial cyst of the liver: a case report and review of the literature

“…It is usually confined to the pelvis and reproductive organs, but has been described in several remote sites including the omentum, gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, operative scars, lymph nodes, umbilicus, skin, lungs, pleura, bladder, kidney, and pancreas. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Hepatic endometriosis is extremely rare. To our knowledge, only five such cases have been reported in the literature.…”

Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Endometriosis

“…Although endometriosis most commonly affects organs of the female genital tract, it also can affect almost any other organ of the body, including the skin and subcutaneous tissues, 5 where it is most commonly found in surgical scars. Endometriosis of the umbilicus has also been reported without prior history of surgery or laparoscopy 3 .…”