Abdominal wall endometrioma: CT findings

A Rare Occurrence of Endometriosis Externa Individually Within the Rectus Abdominis Muscle

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of ectopic functional endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. It most commonly occurs in the pelvic organs, including the ovaries, ligaments of the uterus, and the pouch of Douglas. Extrapelvic implantation of endometrial tissue has also been reported in the literature. Extrapelvic endometriosis can be explained by lymphatic/vascular migration or mechanical transplantation of the tissue during surgery. Rectus abdominis muscle endometriosis is a rare phenomenon that usually presents with a palpable abdominal mass and cyclic pain. Ultrasonography (USG), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be effective to define the location and size of the mass. Our patient was a 32-year-old woman presenting with cyclic abdominal pain and the development of an abdominal mass she had noticed for a year. USG and MRI scans revealed an endometrial focus in the right rectus abdominis muscle. Surgical excision with negative margins was performed, since surgical treatment of the lesion is offered as the definitive treatment.

Spontaneous abdominal wall endometrioma: A case report

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Spontaneous abdominal wall endometrioma is a rare gynaecologic entity having diagnostic dilemmas.

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Our patient underwent wide excision with the repair of defect. There is no recurrence of disease at the one year follow up.

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MRI is the most appropriate preoperative diagnostic modality of choice, FNAC and medical management have limited roles.

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The Pathophysiology of Spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis is still obscure with several theories.

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Surgery is the treatment of choice for abdominal wall endometrioma.

Introduction

The abdominal wall is the commonest site of extra pelvic endometriosis (endometrioma), defined as the presence of functional endometrial gland and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) represents an ectopic functional endometrial tissue situated superficial to peritoneum in a scar less abdomen. Spontaneous AWE is rare, accounting for 20% of all abdominal wall endometriosis. It is unfamiliar to general surgeons because of a large number of potential pitfalls in its diagnosis.

Clinical presentation and intervention

We report a case of spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis (endometrioma) presenting to our general surgery clinic with a painful nodular mass in hypogastric area below umbilicus. The initial diagnosis was a desmoid tumour of the anterior abdominal wall. Pain was a remarkable complaint in our patient. Abdominal wall endometrioma was diagnosed by histopathology postoperatively. Excision planned, during operation, one mass was spotted and excised within healthy limits. Histopathology revealed: endometrial glands surrounded by mantle of endometrial stroma, few scattered hemosiderin laden macrophages and fibrous scar tissues. Our patient had no previous scar. She was discharged from hospital on 5th postoperative day uneventfully. (On account of uncontrolled DM and Hypertension). One year of follow up after the surgery, she is free from disease and no recurrence has been observed.

Discussion

Endometriosis is characterised by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity with the maximum prevalence reported in the 4th decade of life. Most cases of spontaneous endometriosis occur in a scar less abdomen. Multiple imaging techniques have been used and described for its diagnosis. The alleged aetiopathogenesis of spontaneous endometrioma is still debatable. It is usually diagnosed by the histopathology and the preferential treatment in cases of endometrioma is total excision of the mass. The hormonal therapy can be added to surgical excision if there is proven pelvic endometriosis. The surgical excision should be wide enough to prevent its recurrence.

Conclusion

Spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis is an extremely rare gynaecological entity, accounts for 18–20% of all abdominal wall endometriosis. The diagnosis of abdominal wall endometrioma is hardly established prior to surgery. The triad: mass, pain and cyclic symptom aids in diagnosis, unfortunately cyclic symptom is not present in all cases (as in our case). Spontaneous abdominal wall endometrioma is usually diagnosed by high index of clinical suspicion and histopathology. The results of imaging techniques are nonspecific. It may pose a diagnostic dilemma due to its rarity and atypical presentation. The preferential treatment of choice is wide excision.

Endometriosis of the rectus abdominis muscles: a rare case of dual location

Endometriosis of the abdominal wall is a rare entity, the etiopathogenesis remains unclear. It most often occurs after gynecological or obstetric surgery. We report the case of a patient with a dual localization of endometriosis in the abdominal wall, the diagnosis was made by abdominal CT scan. The treatment was surgical. The pathology study confirmed the diagnosis of parietal endometriosis. The postoperative course was uneventful with a favorable outcome for 2 years without recurrence. Through our case, we will discuss the characteristics of this entity in order to understand the interest of an early diagnosis and management to deduce possible means of prevention during each gynecological or obstetric surgery.

Cesarean-Section Scar Endometrioma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Endometriomas can occur after any surgery where there is endometrial manipulation, and there are a number of reports of endometriomas developing in the abdominal wall at the site of the Pfannenstiel incision following Cesarean-section. Although this is ultimately a histopathologically-confirmed diagnosis, preoperative imaging including ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful in the diagnosis and assessment. We report a pathology-confirmed case of Cesarean-section endometrioma with a classic, clinical presentation and imaging findings on computed tomography. A comprehensive literature review and discussion of the multi-modality imaging appearance of Cesarean-section endometrioma is also provided.

Rectus Abdominis Endometrioma after Caesarean Section

Isolated rectus abdominis muscle endometriosis is very uncommon with less than 20 case reports being published to date since its first description in 1984 by Amato and Levitt. We report another case of isolated rectus abdominis endometriosis in a 37-year-old patient with a previous caesarian section. We also discuss the diagnostic and treatment particularities in these patients. In our case, the treatment was only surgical and currently the patient is disease-free during the 24-month follow-up.

Potential role of strain elastography for detection of the extent of large-scar endometriosis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of strain elastography for detection of the lesion extent of large-scar endometriosis and compare it to conventional sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

Eight patients suspected of having large-scar endometriosis underwent transabdominal sonography, strain elastography, and MRI. The mass was located and assessed for its size, imaging appearance, and, especially, widest boundary and vertical extent. After wide surgical excision and pathologic diagnosis, lesions in the central area shown on conventional sonography and the extended area shown on strain elastography underwent immunohistochemical examination.

RESULTS

Nodules were always deep in the subcutaneous plane, in contact with the fascia or muscle. Horizontally, the mean lesion size shown on conventional sonography was mainly consistent with the size on MRI in all cases, but it was obviously smaller on sonography than on strain elastography in 7 cases. Vertically, the lesion depth was mainly consistent with the depth on MRI in 7 cases, but it was more infiltrative on strain elastography in 6 cases. The vertical and horizontal infiltration scales of the postoperative specimens were consistent with strain elastography in all cases. All 8 patients showed strong collagen type I expression in the central area of the lesions; 6 patients showed strong collagen type I expression and the other 2 showed moderate expression in the extended area.

CONCLUSIONS

Strain elastography can elevate the diagnostic accuracy of large-scar endometriosis, the extent of which may be evaluated insufficiently by transabdominal sonography and MRI.

Surgical scar endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common disorder in females of reproductive age. Surgical scar endometrioma after cesarean section develops in 1-2% of patients, and usually presents as a tender and painful abdominal wall mass. The diagnosis is suggested by pre or perimenstrual pelvic pain and is often established only by histology. In this retrospective observational cohort study, we reviewed the medical records of five patients with a histopathological diagnosis of scar endometriosis. A scar mass was found on a previous Pfannenstiel incision in four patients and in a median cesarean section in one patient. The mean age at diagnosis (38.6 years, median 38) was older than reported elsewhere. A histological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of endometriosis in all cases. During the follow-up period (mean 34.6 months), local recurrence (n = 1) and pelvic recurrence (n = 1) were treated surgically. Surgery is the treatment of choice for surgical scar endometriosis. Excision with histologically proven free surgical margins of 1 cm is mandatory to prevent recurrence. As scar endometriosis may be associated with pelvic localization, explorative abdominal laparoscopy may be indicated to exclude the intraperitoneal spread of the disease in symptomatic patients.

Reliable clinical and sonographic findings in the diagnosis of abdominal wall endometriosis near cesarean section scar

AIM: To highlight sonographic and clinical characteristics of scar endometrioma with special emphasis on size-related features.

METHODS: Thirty women (mean age 30.6 years, range 20-42 years) with 33 scar endometriomas (mean diameter 27.1 mm, range 7-60 mm) were consecutively studied by Sonography and Color Doppler examination prior to surgery. Pathological examination was available in all cases.

RESULTS: The most frequent (24 of 33 nodules, 74%) sonographic B-mode aspect of endometrioma was that of an inhomogenously hypoechoic roundish nodule with fibrotic changes (in the form of hyperechoic spots or strands), a peripheral inflammatory hyperechoic ring, spiculated margins and a single vascular pedicle entering the mass at the periphery. On average, 1.6 cesarean sections were recorded per patient (range 1-3). The median interval between the last cesarean section and admission to hospital was 36 mo (range 12-120 mo) and the median duration of symptoms before admission was 25.7 mo (range 0.5-80 mo). 13 patients had 13 large endometriomas (≥ 30 mm) with a mean lesion diameter of 41.3 ± 9.02 mm (range 30-60 mm). Seventeen women had 20 small endometriomas with a mean lesion size of 18.2 ± 5.17 mm (range 7-26 mm). The mean interval between the last cesarean section and admission to hospital (66.0 mo vs 39.6 mo, P < 0.01) and the mean duration of symptoms before admission (43.0 mo vs 17.4 mo, P < 0.01) were significantly longer in patients with large endometriomas; in addition, a statistically significant higher percentage of patients with large implants had undergone previous inconclusive diagnostic examinations, including either computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging/fine needle biopsy/laparoscopy (38.4% vs 0%, P < 0.05). On sonography, large endometriomas showed frequent cystic portions and fistulous tracts (P < 0.02), loss of round/oval shape (P < 0.04) along with increased vascularity (P < 0.04).

CONCLUSION: Endometrioma near cesarean section scar is an often neglected disease, but knowledge of its clinical and sonographic findings may prevent a delay in diagnosis that typically occurs in patients with larger (≥ 3 cm) endometriomas.

Endometriosis of the diaphragm: four cases treated with a combination of laparoscopy and thoracoscopy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and the principles of combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic management of women with diaphragmatic endometriosis at our institution.

DESIGN

Case series (Canadian Task Force Classification II2).

SETTING

Tertiary care referral center.

PATIENTS

Four women with diaphragmatic endometriosis.

INTERVENTIONS

Laparoscopy and thoracoscopy.

MEASUREMENTS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 4 consecutive women with diaphragmatic endometriosis who underwent laparoscopy and thoracoscopy from June 2008 through September 2008.

MAIN RESULTS

Four patients underwent a combination of laparoscopy for treatment of abdominopelvic endometriosis and thoracoscopy for treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis. All patients had a history of chest pain. Three had a history of pelvic pain. Two had a history of catamenial hemothorax or pneumothorax. Two had been previously diagnosed with endometriosis, and three had a history of hormonal pharmacotherapy. All underwent laparoscopy and thoracoscopy without complications. All had uneventful recoveries. At nine-month follow-up, all patients were free of chest pain, and one patient had recurring pelvic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this constitutes the only reported series of patients with endometriosis who underwent a procedure systematically combining both laparoscopy and thoracoscopy for treatment of abdominopelvic and thoracic disease. It confirms that combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic diagnosis and management of diaphragmatic endometriosis is reasonable. The inferior aspect of the diaphragm should be evaluated in all patients undergoing laparoscopy for endometriosis. Concomitant thoracoscopy should be considered for all patients with history of catamenial hemopneumothorax, cyclic chest or shoulder pain, or cyclic dyspnea. The aim of treatment should be to remove endometriotic lesions, to provide symptomatic relief, and to avoid recurrence. The use of these minimally invasive techniques may reduce the need for laparotomy or thoracotomy in affected patients.

Delayed diagnosis is associated with changes in the clinical and ultrasound features of subcutaneous endometriosis near cesarean section scars

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present study was to highlight the sonographic and clinical characteristics of large (≥30 mm in diameter) scar endometriomas near Pfannenstiel incisions, assuming that large size is a marker of delayed diagnosis.

METHODS

We compared clinical, ultrasound (US) and color Doppler findings in 13 patients (mean age 31.3 years) with 13 large scar endometriomas (L-SEs) (mean lesion diameter 41.8 mm; range 30-60 mm) and 17 women (mean age 30.7 years) with 19 small scar endometriomas (S-SEs) (mean lesion size 18.3 mm; range 7-26 mm).

RESULTS

Compared with the S-SE group, the L-SE group had a significantly longer mean interval between the last cesarean section and hospital admission (5.5 vs. 3.3 years; p < 0.01) and longer mean duration of symptoms before admission (43 vs. 17.4 months; p < 0.01). The L-SE group also had a significantly higher percentage of patients who had undergone at least one inconclusive diagnostic examination (Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, fine needle biopsy, or laparoscopy) (39% vs. 0%; p < 0.05). As for US findings, L-SEs more frequently displayed cystic regions and fistulous tracts (p < 0.05), loss of round/oval shape (p < 0.05), and increased vascularity (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed diagnosis of scar endometrioma reflected by a longer and more complex medical history results in larger than usual endometriomas with peculiar US findings, which are even more likely to be misinterpreted by physicians and radiologists.

Endometriomas in the region of a scar from Cesarean section: sonographic appearance and clinical presentation vary with the size of the lesion

PURPOSE

To describe the sonographic (US) appearances of endometriomas developed in the vicinity of a scar from Cesarean section and compare sonographic and clinical characteristics of large (> or =3 cm) scar endometriomas (LSEs) with small scar endometriomas (SSEs).

METHOD

Twenty-eight consecutive women (mean age, 31 years; range, 20-42) with 31 scar endometriomas (mean diameter, 2.7 cm; range, 0.7-6 cm) were examined by US, including color Doppler imaging prior to surgery. Clinical and US findings in women with LSE were compared with those of women with SSE.

RESULTS

Twelve patients had 12 LSEs with a mean longest diameter of 4.1 cm (range, 3-6 cm); in 1 case, a large nodule was associated with a small lesion. Sixteen women had 18 SSEs with a mean lesion size of 1.8 cm (range, 0.7-2.6 cm).The mean time interval between the last Cesarean section and hospital admission was longer in patients with LSE (66 versus 40 months; p < 0.01) as was the mean duration of symptoms before admission (43 versus 17 months; p < 0.01); in addition, 41.6% of patients with LSE had undergone previous inconclusive diagnostic examinations (CT, MRI, fine needle aspiration, or laparoscopy) compared with 0% in patients with SSE (p < 0.05). LSEs more frequently showed cystic portions and fistulous tracts (p < 0.05), loss of round/oval shape (p < 0.05), and increased vascularity (p < 0.05) than SSEs did.

CONCLUSION

LSEs were associated with a delay in diagnosis and some US findings that could result in further diagnostic difficulties.

Abdominal wall endometriosis: an overlooked but possibly preventable complication

OBJECTIVE

To find ways of preventing abdominal wall endometriosis through a retrospective case review.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of 22 patients presenting with 26 postoperative abdominal wall masses. All masses were pathologically proved to be scar endometriosis between September 1994 and September 2006. The age, parity, symptoms and duration, previous surgeries, interval between previous surgery and current operation, initial diagnosis, and the 26 sites and size of endometrioma were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

About 60% of the patients were in the fourth decade of life. All 22 cases, except one with mid-trimester hysterotomy, had previous cesarean section (CS). Three cases had vertical midline incision for CS, and the other 19 had Pfannenstiel incision, 18 of which were for CS and one for hysterotomy. Of the 22 cases, only three had multiple endometriomas, i.e. one case had three foci and the other two cases had two foci each. Twenty-three endometriomas were found in the Pfannenstiel incision group; 19 out of the 23 foci (82%) were located in either corner of the Pfannenstiel incision wounds (with right side predominance in 13 out of 19). Three endometriomas were noted in vertical midline incisions and two were in the upper corner. Three endometrioma excisions were done during repeated CS.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal wall endometriosis may be caused by iatrogenic inoculation of the endometrium into the surgical wound. It is strongly recommended that, at the conclusion of the surgical procedure, the abdominal wound be cleaned thoroughly, particularly at both corner sites (especially the operators side). If an abdominal wall endometriosis is encountered after CS but the patient plans to have future pregnancy and the symptoms are mild, excision of the endometrioma may be deferred until the next indicated CS.

Scar endometriosis at the site of cesarean section

OBJECTIVE

Scar endometriosis is a rare condition. We report a case of scar endometriosis occurring at the site of an old cesarean section scar.

CASE REPORT

A 29-year-old multiparous woman complained of painful sensation during menstruation for 2 years that occurred at the site of her cesarean section surgical scar. On examination, there was a firm nodule measuring 2 x 1.5 cm in size at the mid-point of the scar. In view of the possibility of scar endometriosis, the mass was completely excised. Pathologic findings were compatible with scar endometriosis. Postoperatively, danazol was prescribed to prevent recurrence.

CONCLUSION

A surgical scar becoming painful and swollen during menstruation is the classic symptom of scar endometriosis. Causes include iatrogenic transplantation of endometrium to the surgical wound. Surgical excision is the main treatment. Postoperative GnRH-agonist or danazol may be prescribed to patients with scar endometriosis.

[Abdominal wall endometriosis after caesarean section: report of fifteen cases]

OBJECTIVE

Parietal endometriosis is an uncommon pathology. It can occur on all the scars, most often after a surgical procedure with hysterotomy. Surgical scar endometriosis following caesarean section has an incidence of 0.03 to 0.4%.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study reviewed all the cases of parietal endometriosis seen during a 7-year period in the department of visceral surgery of the Armentière's hospital center. A pathological analysis has confirmed each lesion retained.

RESULTS

15 women were treated during this period. The mean age is 32 years. All the women have one or two antecedents of caesarean with Pfannenstiel's laparotomy. The interval between the caesarean and the appearance of the first symptoms is on average of 5 years and 11 months. Only 66.6% of cases presented the classical symptoms with cyclic pain. For 66.6% of patients, the diagnosis of parietal endometriosis was suspected before the treatment. The treatment is a surgical one with exeresis for all the women. In 13.3% of the cases, the lesion is pre aponeurotic. In 46.6% of the cases, it overgrows the rectus abdominis muscle, in 33.3% of the cases the external abdominal oblique and at last a lesion overgrows the transversus abdominis and one is in an inguinal localization. The mean size of lesions is 2.48 cm. We have not notified complications and no recurrence was noted.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The local endometrial cell transplant is the most likely mechanism to explain the physiopathology of parietal endometriosis. The classical symptoms associate a painful swelling and cyclic pain related to the menstrual period, but all of these symptoms are not always associated. The contribution to the diagnosis of the imaging studies is weak. The surgical treatment has to be sufficiently wide to avoid all recurrence. No means of prevention has proved its efficiency. In 26.6% of cases the parietal endometriosis is associated to pelvic endometriosis. This localization is more often asymptomatic. Then the realization of a laparoscopic exploration is not indicated immediately.

Endometriosis of the round ligament: description of a clinical case and review of the literature

We report a case of endometriosis of the round ligament in a 29-year-old woman, who complained of a lump with a diameter of about 2.5 cm in the right inguinal region, which increased in bulk and was accompanied by intense pain during the menstrual period. The clinical suspicion of inguinal endometriosis, supported by ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance (MR), was confirmed by histological examination of the surgical specimen, which included the mass and the extraperitoneal segment of the round ligament. The authors conclude that the appearance of a lump in the inguinal region associated with subjective and objective changes of the lesion in relation to the menstrual cycle must raise the suspicion of endometriosis among the possible diagnoses.

Scar endometriosis developing after an umbilical hernia repair with mesh

A 44-year-old female was initially evaluated for a 3-cm umbilical hernia, which developed after a laparoscopic myomectomy performed seven years prior. The umbilical hernia was repaired using a synthetic mesh. Eight months after the umbilical hernia repair, the patient returned with chronic pain in a 3-cm raised mass originating from the umbilical hernia repair incision. The mass and mesh were surgically removed. The umbilical fascial defect was repaired with a primary fascia-to-fascia closure and the umbilicus was reconstructed from adjacent skin. The mass was found histologically to be endometriosis and fascial scarring with a foreign body reaction to synthetic mesh. Umbilical endometriosis developed either from peritoneal endometrial seeding from a laparoscopic myomectomy or from metaplasia of multipotential cells, which developed into endometriosis due to inflammatory stimulation by the synthetic mesh. Synthetic mesh probably should be avoided in the surgical repair of a laparoscopically caused umbilical hernia in a premenopausal female especially if there is a history of pelvic endometriosis.

Abdominal wall endometriomas near cesarean delivery scars: sonographic and color doppler findings in a series of 12 patients

PURPOSE

To describe the sonographic and color Doppler features of endometriomas of the abdominal wall arising near cesarean delivery scars.

METHODS

Twelve women (mean age, 31 years; range, 22-42 years) underwent sonographic and color Doppler examination of the abdominal wall with high-frequency probes for the presence of painful nodules near cesarean delivery scars, cyclic or continuous lower abdominal pain, or both.

RESULTS

All patients had undergone at least 1 cesarean delivery before admission (mean, 4.1 years; range, 2-12 years). A typical clinical presentation (ie, mass and cyclic pain and swelling during menses) was recorded in 6 cases. Sonography disclosed all subcutaneous nodules (mean size, 28.1 mm; range, 7-50 mm). Common sonographic features included (1) a hypoechoic inhomogeneous echo texture with internal scattered hyperechoic echoes; (2) irregular margins, often spiculated, infiltrating the adjacent tissues; and (3) a hyperechoic ring of variable width and continuity. At color Doppler examination, a single vascular pedicle entering the mass at the periphery was shown in 7 cases. Abundant intralesional vascularization was shown in 3 cases with diameters of greater than 3 cm, whereas no vascular sign could be detected in 2 lesions smaller than 15 mm. All patients underwent wide surgical excision, and pathologic examination disclosed endometrial tissue in all of them. No relapses were recorded at clinical and sonographic follow-up (4-23 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Sonographic and color Doppler findings, when properly combined with clinical data, may substantially contribute to the correct preoperative diagnosis of abdominal wall endometriomas.

Abdominal wall endometriomas

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of abdominal wall endometriomas is often confused with other surgical conditions.

METHODS

A retrospective study was made of 12 patients presenting with an abdominal wall mass, which proved to be endometrioma.

RESULTS

Of a total of 297 patients of endometriosis treated in our hospital over a 7-year period, 12 (4%) had isolated abdominal wall endometriomas. Their mean age was 29.4 years. The presenting symptoms were abdominal mass (n = 12), cyclical (n = 5) or noncyclic pain (n = 7), dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea (n = 1). All patients had a history of gynecologic operations and presented, after an average of 1.9 years, with a tender mass (average 4 cm) at the previous incision site. Preoperative diagnosis was correct in 4 patients (33%) who presented with a cyclically painful abdominal mass. The others were diagnosed as incisional hernia (n = 4), "abdominal wall tumor" (n = 2), and inguinal hernia (n = 2). All patients underwent wide excision of their endometrioma; 2 required polytetrafluoroethylene patch grafting for the resulting fascial defect. The diagnosis was confirmed at frozen section or conventional histological examination in all patients. At follow-up, ranging from 4 months to 3 years, there was no recurrence of endometrioma.

CONCLUSIONS

Scar endometrioma commonly presents as an abdominal mass with noncyclical symptoms. Imaging techniques are nonspecific and needle biopsy may confirm the diagnosis. Wide excision is the treatment of choice for abdominal wall endometrioma as well as for recurrent lesions.

Abdominal wall endometriomas

Endometriosis is a condition in which uterine mucosal tissue is located outside the uterus. Endometriosis may be pelvic or extrapelvic. The term endometrioma is used when endometriosis appears as a circumscribed mass. Abdominal wall endometriomas are usually a secondary process in scars after surgical procedures. A retrospective study of abdominal wall endometrioma, from March 1992 through April 1999 at our institution was done. The mean age of the patients was 28.4 years. Twelve of these reported cases were secondary to previous surgery. One patient presented primarily with an abdominal wall mass without previous surgical history. The most common presentation was an abdominal wall mass associated with pain during the menstrual cycle. Endometrioma was considered as a differential diagnosis in seven patients. All patients underwent surgery. Along with the literature review on endometrioma, the importance of considering it in the differential diagnosis for patients of child-bearing age is discussed.

Incisional endometriosis: an underappreciated diagnosis in general surgery

BACKGROUND

Incisional endometriosis is a described dinical entity in the gynecologic literature, but it is not well recognized among general surgeons; only 32 cases have been reported in the general surgery literature. The preoperative diagnosis is often mistaken for a suture granuloma, lipoma, abscess, cyst, or incisional hernia.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective review of 10 cases of incisional endometriosis at our institution to determine which, if any, clinical factors would suggest the diagnosis preoperatively. All general surgery patients who had the diagnosis of endometriosis in their pathology specimens from January 1990 to December 1998 were reviewed.

RESULTS

All 10 patients had previous cesarean sections through either a Pfannenstiel (n = 8) or a lower midline (n = 2) incision. Ages ranged from 27 to 41 years (mean 33.4 years). The most common presenting symptom was a slow-growing, painful lump in the lateral aspect of the Pfannenstiel incision. Two of the patients had a change in symptoms with their menstrual cycle. The duration of symptoms ranged from 2 months to 3 years. All patients underwent surgical excision. The size of the excised endometriomas ranged from 1.5 cm to 4.8 cm (mean 3.1 cm).

CONCLUSIONS

Incisional endometriosis may be more common than previously recognized. In all cases it was found to occur in women with a history of cesarean section. Most patients presented with a painful, slow-growing lump at the lateral edge of their incision. Cyclic changes in pain and size of the mass with menses was elicited in only two of these patients, but this may be from a lack of awareness and questioning on the part of the physician. If the diagnosis is made preoperatively, additional diagnostic studies may be avoided. An awareness of this disease process on the part of general surgeons is necessary to guide preoperative evaluation and therapy appropriately.

Management of perineal endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the appropriate diagnosis and management of perineal endometriosis.

METHOD

Six patients with perineal endometriosis were diagnosed according to their clinical symptoms and signs which included cyclic perineal pain and a tender perineal mass coinciding with the menstrual cycle. Diagnostic tools used included ultrasonography, computerized tomography, fine needle aspiration cytology and laparoscopy. Management comprised both surgical and medical treatment. Postoperative follow-up was carried out at 3-monthly intervals.

RESULTS

All six patients were cured following surgical excision of the endometrioma.

CONCLUSION

A detailed history, thorough pelvic examination and sonographic investigation are essential in diagnosing perineal endometriosis. The role of other diagnostic tools remains controversial. Treatment of extrapelvic endometriosis includes surgical intervention and hormonal suppression. If hormonal suppression fails, surgical excision of the perineal endometrioma should be carried out.

Cesarean scar endometriosis

A mass located in a scar area during examination is an infrequent phenomenon. Such a mass can be associated with keloid, hematoma, granuloma, hernia or neoplasm. Two cases of scar endometriosis are reported. The late onset of symptoms after surgery (average 4.5 years) is the usual reason for misdiagnosis. Awareness of this infrequent and late postoperative complication would increase the detection rate. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice and should be accomplished without complications.

Case report: peri-anal episiotomy scar endometrioma imaged by CT and sector endoluminal ultrasound

Endometriosis is a common clinical entity, and is found in approximately 15% of menstruating females. An endometrioma is somewhat less common, and is defined as functioning endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Endometriomas have been reported in a variety of different locations, including the rectus abdominis muscle following Caesarean section, skin and tissues adjacent to surgical scars, and even abdominal wall endometrial implants at the site of needle passage for amniocentesis. We present a case of a solitary endometrioma located in the peri-anal region beneath the site of an episiotomy scar. Sector endoluminal ultrasound was utilized in imaging this thick-walled, cystic mass. Episiotomy scar endometriomas have thus far only been reported in the surgical literature, without reference to radiologic imaging. Our case is illustrated with CT and sector endoluminal ultrasonography.

Diaphragmatic endometriosis: CT and MR findings

A case of endometrioma presenting as a diaphragmatic mass in a 36-year-old woman is described. The computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings of the lesion at this rare site of involvement are illustrated, and the pertinent literature is briefly reviewed.