Endometriosis of the inguinal region: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings

Inguinal endometriosis: A systematic review

Inguinal endometriosis is a very rare entity with uncertain pathophysiology, that poses several diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study aimed to summarize published literature on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Thus, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library. An effort was made to numerically analyze all parameters included in case reports and retrospective analyses, as well. The typical and atypical features of this condition, investigations used, type of treatment and histopathology were recorded. More specifications about the surgical treatment, such as operations previously performed, type of surgery and treatment after surgery have been acknowledged. Other sites of endometriosis, the presence of pelvic endometriosis and the follow-up and recurrence have been also documented. Overall, the search yielded 61 eligible studies including 133 cases of inguinal endometriosis. The typical clinical presentation includes a unilateral inguinal mass, with or without catamenial pain. Transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound was typically used as the first line method of diagnosis. Groin incision and exploratory surgery was the treatment indicated by the majority of the authors, while excision of part of the round ligament was reported in about half of the cases. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were initiated in cases of coexisting endometriosis-related neoplasia. Inguinal recurrence or malignant transformation was rarely reported. The treatment of inguinal endometriosis is surgical and a long-term follow-up is needed. More research is needed on the effectiveness of suppressive hormonal therapy, recurrence rate and its relationship with endometriosis-associated malignancies.

Clinical aspects and management of inguinal endometriosis: A case series of 20 patients

AIM

This study aimed to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and operative or medical management of inguinal endometriosis.

METHODS

In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 20 cases of inguinal endometriosis in our facility, particularly on the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and surgical and medical treatment.

RESULTS

We retrospectively investigated the following items for each patient: age at diagnosis, surgical history, presence of extragenital endometriosis, symptoms, imaging modalities, surgical therapy, hormonal therapy, follow-up period, postoperative recurrence and time to recurrence. We identified 20 cases of inguinal endometriosis in our facility. First, 75% of the patients had right inguinal endometriosis. Second, T1-weighted or fat-saturated T1-weighted images showed hyperintensity in the lesions in 17 patients (17/18 patients, 94.4%). Third, in 5 of 6 patients who underwent surgical therapy, we performed radical surgery to excise the inguinal lesion including the round ligament. One patient had disease relapse. Fourth, in 6 of 7 cases, dienogest effectively improved pain without significant adverse effects, but oral contraceptive was effective in 1 of 4 patients without significant adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients with inguinal endometriosis in our facility. We have shown that magnetic resonance imaging can be a useful imaging modality to obtain a specific diagnosis of this disease. In addition, inguinal endometriosis can be managed with radical surgery to resect lesions including the round ligament and with hormonal treatment. In particular, dienogest ameliorated symptoms, which can be an option for patients who do not want surgery.

Abdominal wall endometriosis in the cesarean section surgical scar: a potential diagnostic pitfall

AIM

The abdominal wall is an uncommon site of extrapelvic endometriosis. It usually develops in a previous surgical scar and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any abdominal swelling. Classical symptoms of endometriosis may resemble abdominal wall lesions such as an incisional hernia, hematoma, granuloma, abscess or various soft tissue tumors; therefore, a definitive preoperative diagnosis is not always easy to determine in every case. The aim of this article is to review the clinical findings, imaging results and histopathology of those of our patients who have had cesarean scar endometriosis.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with abdominal wall endometriosis in their surgical scars from February 2008 to March 2010 were documented. The age, parity, symptoms, previous surgeries, initial diagnosis, diagnostic modalities, definitive operation, postoperative complications, histopathological evaluations and recurrences were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 18 patients with a mean age of 34.5 ± 9.6 years. All (100%) had a gradually growing nodular abdominal mass in or adjacent to their cesarean incision scars. This was often associated with pain (83.3%), either noncyclical (26.6%) or cyclical (73.3%) in nature. Ultrasonography (100%), computerized tomography with intravenous contrast (22.2%) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (66.6%) were performed on the patients. All patients underwent surgery and their masses were completely excised. The mean diameter of the removed masses was 3.9 ± 1.4 cm. The final pathological diagnosis for each case was abdominal wall endometriosis. Biannual follow-up examinations for two years revealed that each patient had a complete and uneventful recovery without recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal wall endometriosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses located at cesarean section incision scars, which should be excised for definitive diagnosis and treatment.

Sonographic findings of inguinal endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this series was to describe the sonographic findings of inguinal endometriosis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of 3 cases of inguinal endometriosis. The following gray scale and color Doppler sonographic features were analyzed: size, shape, echogenicity, and blood flow within inguinal endometriosis.

RESULTS

The size of inguinal endometriosis ranged from 3.1 to 4.2 cm (mean, 3.7 cm). All 3 cases were cystic lesions. Two of 3 cases were lesions with internal septa. On color Doppler sonography, 1 of the 3 cases showed a few flow signals within the lesion, whereas in 2 of the 3 lesions, no blood flow could be identified within the lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the sonographic features of inguinal endometriosis may be variable, endometriosis should be included in the differential diagnosis when unilocular and multilocular cystic masses are seen on sonography.

Abdominal hernias in pregnancy

A hernia is an area of weakness or complete disruption of the fibromuscular tissues of the body wall. In addition to the body wall, hernias can occur in the diaphragm, pelvic wall, perineum, pelvic floor, and internal abdominal viscera (hernias through omental or mesenteric defects, ligaments and folds). Surgical repair of different types of hernia is the most common general surgical procedure with more than 20 million hernioplasties performed each year. Abdominal wall hernias are not common during pregnancy. Hernias can be symptomless or have minimal symptoms, including slight discomfort or pain. Such hernias are not life-threatening and should be controlled on regular basis. After spontaneous delivery and uterine involution, they should be repaired on an elective basis. It is of utmost importance for a clinician to diagnose emergent situations, which include incarceration, strangulation and perforation caused by hernia because consultation with a surgeon and emergency operation are mandatory. There is still no consensus for irreducible hernia during pregnancy, but complications during pregnancy outweigh elective operation. Therefore, hernioplasty is recommended during pregnancy, especially in early gestation.