[Colorectal endometriosis. Diagnosis and management]

A Case of Rectal Endometriosis Misdiagnosed as Rectal Malignancy on Three Colonoscopies and Biopsies Sharing a Combined Literature Review

Background

Endometriosis involves the intestine, and its clinical manifestations are nonspecific and lack of etiological manifestations. The diagnosis is difficult, which often leads to misdiagnosis. We report a case of endometriosis which was misdiagnosed as intestinal malignant tumor after colonoscopy and three biopsies.

Case Presentation

We reported a 42-year-old woman who went to see a doctor because of anal distension. She was examined by three gastrointestinal endoscopists at different levels in different hospitals and underwent biopsy at the same time. Combined with clinical manifestations, imaging examination, endoscopic examination and pathological examination, she was misdiagnosed as intestinal malignant tumor, and partial intestinal resection was performed according to the surgical principle of malignant tumor.

Conclusion

Although there are advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy and imaging techniques, intestinal endometriosis is still easy to be misdiagnosed. As our case report shows, after three colonoscopy and biopsy, it is still misdiagnosed as intestinal malignant tumor. Further research is needed to improve the ability of preoperative diagnosis, which deserves the attention of gastroenterologists and obstetricians and gynecologists.

Deep endometriosis of ileocecum complicated by acute intestinal obstruction: a case report

Endometriosis is a frequent gynecological pathology. Digestive localization complicated by acute intestinal obstruction is exceptionally rare. We herein report a case involving a 48-year-old woman who had a long-term history of endometriosis symptoms. She was diagnosed with endometriosis by ultrasound 1 month before her admission to the emergency room with acute intestinal obstruction. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination following surgical resection. Further medical management resulted in a satisfactory outcome.

Case study of colorectal endometriosis treated with endoscopic submucosal excavation

Colorectal endometriosis (CEM) is a rare and complicated form of deep invasive endometriosis. Its treatment methods include drug therapy and surgery. However, it is often difficult to alleviate symptoms and address problems, such as infertility, using drug treatment alone. Surgical intervention provides a histologic diagnosis, allows assessment of pelvic cysts or masses with features concerning for malignancy, and reduces pain by destroying the endometriotic implants. We consider surgery in women with the following: Persistent pain despite medical therapy; Contraindications to or refusal of medical therapy; Need for a tissue diagnosis of endometriosis; Exclusion of malignancy in an adnexal mass; Obstruction of the bowel or urinary tract. But there is no consensus about the surgical methods. With the rapid development of gastroenteroscopy technology in recent years, many local gastrointestinal tumors that previously required surgical resection can now be removed by endoscopic surgery. Herein, we report one case of CEM treated by endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) to provide a new treatment option for the radical resection of single CEM.

Treatment preferences for medication or surgery in patients with deep endometriosis and bowel involvement - a discrete choice experiment

Objective

To study the preferences of women with deep endometriosis (DE) with bowel involvement when they have to choose between conservative (medication) or surgical treatment.

Design

Labelled discrete choice experiment (DCE).

Setting

Dutch academic and non‐academic hospitals and online recruitment.

Population or Sample

A total of 169 women diagnosed with DE of the bowel.

Methods

Baseline characteristics and the fear of surgery were collected. Women were asked to rank attributes and choose between hypothetical conservative or surgical treatment in different choice sets (scenarios). Each choice set offered different levels of all treatment attributes. Data were analysed by using multinomial logistic regression.

Main Outcome Measures

The following attributes – effect on/risk of pain, fatigue, pregnancy, endometriosis lesions, mood swings, osteoporosis, temporary stoma and permanent intestinal symptoms – were used in this DCE.

Results

In the ranking, osteoporosis was ranked with low importance, whereas in the DCE, a lower chance of osteoporosis was one of the most important drivers when choosing a conservative treatment. Women with previous surgery showed less fear of surgery compared with women without surgery. Low anterior resection syndrome was almost equally important for patients as the chance of pain reduction. Pain reduction had higher importance than improving fertility chances, even in women with desire for a future child.

Conclusions

The risk of developing low anterior resection syndrome as a result of treatment is almost equally important as the reduction of pain symptoms. Women with previous surgery experience less fear of surgery compared with women without a surgical history.

Tweetable Abstract

First discrete choice experiment in patients with deep endometriosis.

First discrete choice experiment in patients with deep endometriosis.

Management of deep infiltrating endometriosis of the rectum: Is a systematic temporary stoma relevant?

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of performing a protective stoma in patients operated for rectal endometriosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From June 2009 to December 2011, 47 patients were operated for rectal endometriosis by segmental or discoid resection in 4 different centers. Two groups were formed: one with protective stoma (group S), n=33 and one without protective stoma (group NS), n=14. Data were collected from the CIRENDO database.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Postoperative complication rate of group NS was 57% against 48% in group S (P=0.75). There was an increasing trend of the rate of anastomotic leakage in group S as compared to group NS: 21% against 3% (P=0.073). All 3 patients of group NS with an anastomotic leakage were reoperated and the group S patient had medical treatment. In a center, digestive operative time was not necessarily performed in association with a gastrointestinal surgeon. All patients in group S had a restoration of continuity in about 3 months. Two of them had dilation of anastomotic stricture and 3 others showed a transient postoperative ileus during this recovery. Quality of life was assessed by the MOS SF-36 and significantly improved in both groups thanks to the intervention.

CONCLUSION

Temporary digestive stoma in patients operated for rectal endometriosis has to be considered because in our study, it seems reducing complications such as anastomotic leakage. This must be confirmed with studies with larger numbers.

Transrectal ultrasound - Techniques and outcomes in the management of intestinal endometriosis

The widespread use of endoscopic ultrasound has facilitated the evaluation of subepithelial and surrounding lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Deep pelvic endometriosis, with or without infiltration of the intestinal wall, is a frequent disease that can be observed in women in their fertile age. Patients of this disease may present nonspecific signs and symptoms or be completely asymptomatic. Laparoscopic surgical resection of endometriotic lesions is the treatment of choice in symptomatic patients. An accurate preoperative evaluation is indispensable for therapeutic decisions mainly in the suspicion of intestinal wall and/or urinary tract infiltration, and also in cases where we need to establish histological diagnosis or to rule out malignant disease. Diagnostic tools, including transrectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance image, transvaginal ultrasound, barium enema, and colonoscopy, play significant roles in determining the presence, depth, histology, and other relevant data about the extension of the disease. Diagnostic algorithm depends on the clinical presentation, the expertise of the medical team, and the technology available at each institution. This article reviews and discusses relevant clinical points in endometriosis, including techniques and outcomes of the study of the disease through transrectal ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration.

Rectovaginal endometriosis – a frequently missed diagnosis

To assess the proportion of women found to have rectovaginal endometriosis who underwent a previous laparoscopy with negative findings, a 5-year retrospective observational study was carried out at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff UK, from 2001 to 2005. A total of 61 cases with potential symptoms of rectovaginal endometriosis who underwent laparoscopy were identified. Rectovaginal endometriosis was identified in 16 of these cases. Previous laparoscopy was carried out in 33 of these 61 cases. In the group of women found to have rectovaginal endometriosis, 14 cases of rectovaginal endometriosis were not identified by pre-referral laparoscopy. This study supports the anecdotal idea that rectovaginal endometriosis is an often missed diagnosis at the time of laparoscopy. Diagnostic laparoscopy by generalist gynaecologists frequently fails to diagnose rectovaginal endometriosis. The routine use of rectal probes at laparoscopy is recommended to increase diagnostic accuracy.

Gallbladder endometriosis as a cause of occult bleeding

A 17-year-old girl with colicky abdominal pain and chronic anemia presented to the gastrointestinal service of the University Hospital of Essen. In the routine workup, there were no pathological findings despite the anemia. Because of the fluctuation of symptoms with a climax at the time of menstruation, consecutive ultrasound studies were performed revealing a visible mass inside the gallbladder. This finding was confirmed by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study performed at the same time. Because of the severe anemia by that time, a cholecystectomy was performed, and histology reconfirmed the diagnosis of isolated gallbladder endometriosis. The patient recovered well and has had no recurrence of the disease to date.

[Intestinal endometriosis. Current status]

Endometriosis affects a wide spectrum of premenopausal women. Intestinal involvement, affecting mainly the large bowel and sometimes the small bowel, is much less frequent. Diagnosis is relatively straightforward in women with long standing pelvic endometriosis but is difficult in acute intestinal obstruction, since a diagnosis of endometriosis is not often considered in this entity. We performed an exhaustive review of the medical literature, including the option of medical treatment, which is rarely effective in intestinal endometriosis. In most patients with intestinal symptoms, the disease is so severe that surgical treatment is required. Recent studies indicate that the most effective approach is laparoscopic. We analyze the most important classical and recent series of patients and discuss treatment results.

Surgical outcome and long-term follow up after laparoscopic rectosigmoid resection in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of treating severely symptomatic women with deep infiltrating intestinal endometriosis by laparoscopic segmental rectosigmoid resection. Detailed intraoperative and postoperative records and questionnaires (preoperatively, 1 month postoperatively and every 6 months for 3 years) were collected from 22 women. The estimated blood loss during surgery was 290 +/- 162 ml (range 180-600), and average hospital stay was 8 days (range 6-19). One woman required blood transfusion after surgery. Two cases were converted to laparotomy. One woman had early dehiscence of the anastomosis. Six months after surgery, there was a significant reduction of symptom scores (greater than 50% for most types of pain) related to intestinal localisation of endometriosis (P < 0.05). Score improvements were maintained during the whole period of follow up. Noncyclic pelvic pain scores showed significant reductions (P < 0.05) after 6 and 12 months, but there was a high recurrence rate later. Dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia improved in 18/21 and 14/18 women with preoperative symptoms, respectively. Constipation, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding improved in all affected women for the whole period of follow up. Laparoscopic segmental rectosigmoid resection seems safe and effective in women with deep infiltrating colorectal endometriosis resulting in significant reductions in painful and dysfunctional symptoms associated with deep bowel involvement.