Sigmoid endometriosis and a diagnostic dilemma - A case report and literature review

Endometriosis Causing Large Bowel Obstruction: A Case Report

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma in ectopic locations, with extrapelvic sites being less commonly affected. Only a few cases of colonic endometriosis causing acute bowel obstruction have been reported in the literature, in which resection and primary anastomosis were the treatments performed. We present the case of a 40-year-old female who presented with signs and symptoms of acute large bowel obstruction thought to be due to malignancy; however, further evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis. The management plan was an immediate laparotomy with rectosigmoid resection and primary anastomosis.

Ultrasound findings in extragenital endometriosis

We present a report on ultrasound findings in extragenital endometriosis and a literature review accompanied by illustrations. Intestinal endometriosis should be considered in female patients of reproductive age who present with constipation, gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, cramp-like abdominal pain, diarrhoea and pelvic pain. Although definitive preoperative diagnosis of endometriosis is difficult, clinical suspicion and appropriate imaging might prevent extensive surgical procedures with higher morbidity. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is an efficient non-invasive imaging method without any radiation exposure that supports the early diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis and may help assess the vascularization of endometriotic lesions within the distinct layers of the intestinal wall.

A rare case of sigmoid colon obstruction in patient with ulcerative colitis: role of transabdominal ultrasound-guided biopsy

INTRODUCTION

Endometriosis is a common chronic gynaecological disease affecting 10 % of women of reproductive age. Of these 5-12 % may present bowel endometriosis that may be asymptomatic or associated with aspecific symptoms even bowel obstruction.

CASE PRESENTATION

The case of a 41-year-old woman with history of ulcerative colitis, previous diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis, recurrent abdominal pain not related to the menstrual cycle, with abdominal pain and obstinate constipation for 2 weeks was referred. The patient underwent colonoscopy, transabdominal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy to have a diagnosis.

DISCUSSION

Endometriosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every woman of childbearing age who presents with gastrointestinal or abdominal symptoms. As demonstrated in our case and by the burgeoning literature in this field, we believe that the role of transabdominal ultrasound should be reconsidered in the management of abdominal diseases because this examination associated with ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy allows, in expert hands, to obtain adequate histological samples avoiding patients to undergo more invasive tests to get a diagnosis.

Endometriosis involving the mucosa of the intestinal tract: a clinicopathologic study of 15 cases

Endometriosis involving the mucosa of the intestines is rare, but may lead to diagnostic pitfalls. We reviewed 15 cases (seven biopsies and eight resections) from 14 patients. The patients' mean age is 48 years (31-66 years). Presenting symptoms included lower gastrointestinal bleeding, pelvic pain, rectal urgency, abdominal mass, and bowel obstruction. In the majority of cases, the lesion was located in the rectum (73%) with the remainder in the sigmoid colon (20%) and ileum (7%). The most common indication for biopsy was a polypoid lesion seen endoscopically (eight cases). For patients who underwent resections, the most common clinical impression was colonic carcinoma (75%), due to mass lesions and stricture as the most common macroscopic findings. Histologically, one case had stromal endometriosis only, but the remaining 14 cases had both endometrial glands and stroma. Epithelial metaplasia was present in all cases, mostly tubal metaplasia (ciliated epithelium). Hybrid glands and replacement of the surface epithelium by endometrial epithelium were also seen. Crypt architectural distortion, cryptitis, and crypt abscesses were seen in some cases, mimicking chronic active colitis or enteritis. A panel of immunohistochemical stains (CK7, CK20, CDX2, and ER) was found to be useful in biopsies with suspected endometriosis demonstrating unusual histology or only containing endometrioid stroma tissue. Vascular involvement by endometriosis was identified in one case. Endometrial hyperplasia (n=2) and cancer (n=1) were also seen in the ectopic tissue. All patients were alive at follow-up (3-216 months, mean 67 months).