Vesical endometriosis: a review and 2 case reports

Endometriosis of the Urinary Bladder Causing a Right Hydronephrosis: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a chronic and benign condition in which endometrial glands and stroma are present outside the uterine cavity. The pathogenesis of endometriosis is not fully understood; however, several mechanisms have been hypothesized. Endometriosis is a common clinical presentation in gynecology, but affecting the urinary tract is a rare phenomenon, occurring in 0.3-12% of cases. In more severe forms, the initial presentation may be hydronephrosis or infertility. CASE REPORT We describe the case of a 25-year-old Saudi woman who presented with obstructive urinary tract symptoms and was diagnosed with urinary bladder endometriosis complicated with a right hydronephrosis. After thorough investigations and workups, the management was taken on by a multidisciplinary team approach. CONCLUSIONS This case report shows that hormonal therapy management resulted in a satisfactory outcome contrary to the surgical resection approach that is discussed in many articles.

Gastrointestinal and Urinary Tract Endometriosis: A Review on the Commonest Locations of Extrapelvic Endometriosis

Extrapelvic endometriosis is a rare entity that presents serious challenges to researchers and clinicians. Endometriotic lesions have been reported in every part of the female human body and in some instances in males. Organs that are close to the uterus are more often affected than distant locations. Extrapelvic endometriosis affects a slightly older population of women than pelvic endometriosis. This might lead to the assumption that it takes several years for pelvic endometriosis to "metastasize" outside the pelvis. All current theories of the pathophysiology of endometriosis apply to some extent to the different types of extrapelvic endometriosis. The gastrointestinal tract is the most common location of extrapelvic endometriosis with the urinary system being the second one. However, since sigmoid colon, rectum, and bladder are pelvic organs, extragenital pelvic endometriosis may be a more suitable definition for endometriotic implants related to these organs than extrapelvic endometriosis. The sigmoid colon is the most commonly involved, followed by the rectum, ileum, appendix, and caecum. Most lesions are confined in the serosal layer; however, deeper lesion can alter bowel function and cause symptoms. Bladder and ureteral involvement are the most common sites concerning the urinary system. Unfortunately, ureteral endometriosis is often asymptomatic leading to silent obstructive uropathy and renal failure. Surgical excision of the endometriotic tissue is the ideal treatment for all types of extrapelvic endometriosis. Adjunctive treatment might be useful in selected cases.

Bladder Endometriosis Mimicking TCC - A Case Report

Endometriosis is the ectopic presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Though on its own endometriosis is not a rare lesion, the involvement of the urinary tract is rare but with the bladder being the most commonly affected organ. Endometriosis is usually seen in females between the ages of 30-40 years and may occur due to fluctuating levels of oestrogen and progesterone. Clinically the patient maybe asymptomatic or show symptoms of dysmenorrhea, irregular or heavy periods, pain in the pelvic area, lower abdomen or in the back. It has been suggested that ultrasonography should be done either before or during menstruation as the lesion becomes more evident and a biopsy taken during this period is a strong aid in reaching a final diagnosis. We report here an unusual case of bladder endometriosis where the patient came with severe pelvic pain and an endoluminal mass seen on the ultrasonographic report. Based on these findings a differential of transitional cell carcinoma was given which was ruled out based on the cystoscopic findings.

Medical treatment of ureteral obstruction associated with ovarian remnants and/or endometriosis: report of three cases and review of the literature

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Experience with low-dose intermittent danazol or prolonged gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) with and without add-back therapy in endometriosis-associated ureteral obstruction.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

University-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Three women with endometriosis-associated ureteral obstruction.

INTERVENTION

The regimen of GnRH-a alone or with add-back included (1) leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg intramuscularly monthly; (2) micronized 17α-estradiol 1 mg/day by mouth; (3) pulsed norethinedrone 0.35 mg/day by mouth, 2 days on and/or 2 days off; and (4) letrozole 2.5 mg by mouth for the first 5 days of the first GnRH-a injection. Danazol, 100 mg/day by mouth, was prescribed as a regimen of 3 months on, 3 months off, for 4 years.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The first case was a 50-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 3, body mass index (BMI) 27 kg/m(2), with multiple surgeries, including hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (HBSO), and history of a stroke. She presented with right-sided pain and hydro-uretero-nephrosis. Magnetic resonance imaging identified a right adnexal cyst (4.5 × 3.4 × 2.4 cm). She was treated with leuprolide acetate monthly injections and a ureteric stent. The cyst, pain, and hydro-uretero-nephrosis resolved after 12 months. The second case was a 45-year-old woman, G2P2, BMI 28 kg/m(2) with multiple surgeries, including HBSO. She presented with left-sided pelvic pain. Ultrasound identified a left adnexal cyst and hydronephrosis. After 3 months of leuprolide acetate and add-back therapy, the cyst, pain, and hydronephrosis resolved. The third case was a 46-year-old woman, G2P2, BMI 25 kg/m(2), who presented with left flank and pelvic pain. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated moderate left hydronephrosis and left adnexal pelvic side-wall involvement with possible endometriosis. Due to many previous surgeries, this patient was a high-risk surgical candidate, and therefore, she was offered medical therapy. After a normal serum liver and lipid profile, she was started on danazol, 100 mg/day for 3 months. After 3 months of therapy, there was complete resolution of the patient's hydronephrosis and pain. She was then advised to continue with a 3-month on, 3-month off regimen. She discontinued the danazol and remained asymptomatic with no recurrence of hydronephrosis at 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose intermittent danazol or GnRH-a alone or with add-back, may be effective long-term therapies in endometriosis-associated ureteral obstruction when surgery is contraindicated, refused, or difficult to perform.

Urinary tract endometriosis: Review of 19 cases

AIM

The aim of our study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of medical and surgical management of urinary tract endometriosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Urinary tract endometriosis patients enrolled between Jan 2006 and May 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative datas (mode of presentation, diagnosis, imaging), intraoperative findings (location and size of lesion), postoperative histopathology and follow-up were recorded and results were analyzed and the success rate of different modalities of treatment was calculated.

RESULTS

In our study, of nineteen patients, nine had vesical involvement and ten had ureteric involvement. Among the vesical group, the success rate of transurethral resection followed by injection leuproide was 60% (3/5), while among the partial cystectomy group, the success rate was 100%. Among patients with ureteric involvement, success rate of distal ureterectomy and reimplantation was 100%, laparoscopic ureterolysis with Double J stenting followed by injection leuprolide was 75% while that of Gonadotropin- releasing hormone (GnRh) analogue alone was 67%.

CONCLUSION

One should have a high index of suspicion with irritative voiding symptoms with or without hematuria, with negative urine culture, in all premenopausal women to diagnose urinary tract endometriosis. Partial cystectomy is a better alternative to transurethral resection followed by GnRh analogue in vesical endometriosis. Approach to the ureter must be individualised depending upon the severity of disease and dilatation of the upper tract to maximise the preservation of renal function.

[Bladder endometriosis and barrenness: diagnostic and treatment strategy]

Deep infiltrating endometriosis is a well-known female disease responsible for chronic pelvic pain, urinary dysfunction, infertility, and altered quality of life. Endometriosis and infertility are complex entities and the optimal choice of management of both of them remains obscure. Mechanism of development of the disease has to be understood to optimize patients care. The link between barrenness and endometriosis is well known, but there is no direct link between bladder lesion and infertility. Bladder endometriosis is a deeply infiltrating endometriosis lesion. Its management is first diagnostic and then remedial. In case of ineffectiveness of medical strategy, surgical treatment is indicated. However, for patient suffering from symptomatic isolated bladder endometriosis, surgical management can be offered in first intention. Isolated bladder injuries due to endometriosis are mostly treated by conservative laparoscopic surgery, after a complete evaluation of endometriosis disease and barrenness by clinical exam and imaging techniques.

Treatment of urinary tract endometriosis

Endometriosis involving the urinary tract, although infrequent, can have significant impact on patients' symptoms, response to treatment, and urologic function. The purpose of this article is to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of endometriosis that affects the urinary tract.

Extragenital endometriosis--a clinicopathological review of a Glasgow hospital experience with case illustrations

The clinicopathological characteristics of 34 cases of extragenital endometriosis (mean age 33.74) presenting to surgeons over a 9-year period at Glasgow Royal Infirmary were reviewed. A total of 379 cases of endometriosis were diagnosed by histology during the period, giving an 8.9% prevalence of extragenital manifestations. Eleven (32.3%) cases were in the intestinal tract, two (5.9%) in the urinary tract and 21 (61.8%) were in other sites, including pfannenstial scar, inguinal canal, umbilicus and perineum; 52.9% presented to gynaecologists and mean time to diagnosis was 24.54 months (CI: 13.2 - 35.8). Pain was the most common presentation in 76.5% but this was cyclical, reported in only 41.2%. Palpable mass was found in 41.2%, especially in pfannenstial scar (26.5%), suggesting iatrogenic cause. Histology remains the cornerstone of diagnosis and several of the case histories describe delay and diagnostic confusion. Endometriosis is rarely fatal, but continues to challenge patients and clinicians in all specialities in presentation and diagnosis.

[Symptomatic bladder or ureteral endometriosis: report of 8 cases and review of the literature]

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the symptoms of bladder and ureteral endometriosis and to review the treatment approaches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective studyover the period November 1989-July 2000. We reviewed the medical data of all women with bladder or utereral endometriosis who underwent a major surgery (ureteral reimplementation on psoas bladder, partial resection of the ureter, partial cystectomy).

RESULTS

Eight women met the defined selection criterion, three with bladder injuryand five with ureteral injury. The only adverse postoperative complication was a passive ureteral reflux following ureteral reimplementation on psoas bladder. No recurrence on the urinary tract were reported.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment is indicated for patient suffering from symptomatic bladder or ureteral endometriosis. Isolated bladder injuries due to endometriosis are mostly treated by laparoscopic surgery. Ureteral endometriosis may deteriorate the renal function. The initial step of the treatment may include an uterolysis by coelioscopy or an ureteral dilatation by ureteroscopy together with a medical treatment. The renal function must be closely monitored. In case of persistent or recurrent endometriosis, an ureteral resection would be justified.

Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and transvaginal ultrasonography in diagnosing bladder endometriosis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To take recent progress in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) into account to determine its accuracy compared with that of transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) in diagnosing bladder endometriosis.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

University-affiliated hospital.

PATIENTS

Twelve women with histologically proved bladder endometriosis.

INTERVENTION

Magnetic resonance imaging with body and endocavitary coils and TVUS.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Although TVUS was normal in four patients, MRI enabled endometriotic lesions to be detected in all patients. Magnetic resonance imaging with endocavitary coil established the existence of deep infiltration in three patients when muscularis involvement was not visible with the body coil. In seven women MRI determined how far deep posterior endometriotic lesions extended, whereas with TVUS this was impossible to see. Conclusion. MRI had advantages over TVUS in diagnosing small lesions of associated posterior deep endometriotic lesions. The endocavitary coil gave better results than the phased-array coil for diagnosing deep infiltration. These results are important in that they help guide surgical management.

Urinary bladder. Mimics of neoplasia and new pathologic entities

A wide range of epithelial and mesenchymal pseudoneoplastic disorders of the urinary bladder may clinically and pathologically mimic a malignant neoplasm. These lesions usually require a tissue biopsy for definitive diagnosis. It is important to be aware of these lesions and their spectrum of morphologic appearances to avoid overdiagnosis and inappropriate aggressive therapy.

Urinary tract endometriosis: report of 2 cases and a review of the literature

Endometriosis of the urinary tract is a relatively rare condition. Since clinical signs are not specific the diagnosis is difficult and the therapy is not well defined. Two cases and a review of the literature are presented.

Extrapelvic endometriosis

This article reviews extrapelvic endometriosis, emphasizing classic papers as well as recent research. Because of the nature of the existing literature, specifically case reports and retrospective analyses, this article is primarily descriptive in nature. Extrapelvic endometriosis is discussed based on some main areas of occurrence, including gastrointestinal, urinary, and thoracic; other areas are also reviewed. What is known about the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of extrapelvic endometriosis is highlighted. Areas for future direction of research in the field are also identified.

Female urethrocystalgias (UC): The Urologist's viewpoint

Idiopathic urethrocystalgia is a diagnosis by exclusion. The Urologist's task is to carry out all the clinical investigations necessary to exclude possible organic and functional pathologies which can cause urethrocystalgia.

Vesical endometriosis: report of two cases and review of the literature

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease in which endometrial tissue is deposited outside the normal confines of the uterine cavity. In rare instances, endometriosis involves the urinary tract, with the bladder the most frequent organ affected. Classic presenting symptoms include cyclic irritative voiding symptoms and suprapubic discomfort with or without hematuria. Both medical and surgical management have been advocated, but surgical extirpation is probably more efficacious. Two cases of endometriosis involving the the bladder are presented and contrasted in terms of pathophysiology. Contemporary management of this condition is reviewed, and guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are proposed.

Retroperitoneal endometriosis causing cyclical ureteral obstruction

We report a case of retroperitoneal endometriosis involving the periureteral tissues of the left ureter. The patient suffered from cyclical symptoms of left ureteral obstruction during menstruation. Endometriosis of the ureter is not common and in this case the preoperative diagnosis presented difficulties due to the absence of any pathological findings during the clinicolaboratory evaluation of the patient before or after menstruation. The patient was managed with surgical resection of the affected ureteral segment and subsequent end-to-end anastomosis of the left ureter. A brief review of the subject is also presented.

Bladder detrusor endometriosis: clinical and pathogenetic implications

PURPOSE

We examined the pathogenesis of vesical endometriosis, identified the diagnostic signs and defined a successful management strategy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The records of 8 patients with bladder detrusor endometriosis were reviewed.

RESULTS

Two distinct forms of the condition appear to exist, that is spontaneous and post-cesarean. In the former case the bladder lesion is a manifestation of a generalized pelvic disease, whereas after iatrogenic dissemination growth of ectopic endometrium is usually limited to the bladder wall. The catamenial nature of bladder symptoms (frequency, urgency, dysuria and tenesmus) was pathognomonic. Cystoscopy with biopsy was diagnostic in 3 cases. Ultrasonography revealed an endo-luminal vegetation and ruled out an anterior uterine leiomyoma, whereas magnetic resonance imaging did not add relevant information. Partial cystectomy appears to cure the urinary disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest a high index of suspicion of vesical endometriosis in all premenopausal women complaining of catamenial bladder symptoms with negative urine cultures.

Laparoscopic surgery for intestinal and urinary endometriosis

Intestinal and urinary tract involvement by endometriosis may be symptomatic, particularly when invasive disease is present. Even in expert hands, complete excision of all invasive disease cannot be accomplished laparoscopically in every case. The practitioner must balance enthusiasm for the advantages of a laparoscopic approach with limitations of time and skill. Laparoscopy should be abandoned in a particular case if a better job can be performed by laparotomy. Hysterectomy with castration may not relieve symptoms due to invasive disease.

Different types of extragenital endometriosis: a review

Endometriotic growth may appear in any structure in the body. As well as affecting the internal genitalia, lesions are not uncommon in the bowel, urinary tract and thorax and reports of a number of cases at rarer sites have been published. This review is based on more than 1000 publications on the subject, that allows an overview of the appearance of the disease in different organs.

Endometriosis of bladder

Vesical endometriosis is the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue in the bladder. Usually small lesions occur. Three cases of endometriosis of the bladder are presented. Each case demonstrates a large intravesical lesion with striking radiographic findings that are indistinguishable from an intravesical neoplasm.

Endometriosis of bladder after menopause

We report a rare case of endometriosis of the bladder in a 68-year-old postmenopausal woman. The patient had not received any exogenous estrogen therapy and the hormone levels were normal for a castrated female subject. Endometriosis of the bladder should be considered as a cause of an abnormal mass of the bladder even after menopause. This case documents that urinary involvement by endometriosis may persist even after years of a hormonally castrated state.

Bladder endometriosis: three case reports and a review

Endometriotic involvement of the bladder, although uncommon, is being reported in the literature with increasing frequency. Three cases are presented which will serve to highlight the main features of the disease and its management.

Endometrioid adenosarcoma of the bladder arising from endometriosis

Vesical endometriosis is an uncommon entity characterized by the deposition of benign, hyperplastic endometrial tissue in the bladder. To date, only about 160 cases have been reported in the world literature. More uncommon, however, are case reports of extrauterine malignancies arising from pre-existing endometriosis. We report a case of a large endometrial adenosarcoma in a patient who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 10 years previously for endometriosis. To our knowledge this malignancy has never been reported previously to involve the bladder. We review the pathological findings, possible mode of entry into the bladder and current concepts in its treatment.

Bladder detrusor endometriosis mimicking interstitial cystitis

Endometriosis involving the muscular wall of the bladder may cause symptoms similar to those of interstitial cystitis. Vesical endometriosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of interstitial cystitis, especially in patients with a history of prior gynecologic or pelvic surgery.