Intestinal endometriosis: features of clinical and morphological diagnostics

A clinical observation of the combined endometriotic lesion of the small intestine and the appendix is given below. Extragenital endometriosis is a rare pathology in which endometrioid heterotopies develop outside the reproductive system organs. At about 1825% of women suffering from the pelvic organs endometriosis, the intestines are involved in the pathological process. In this regard, it is believed that in most cases its lesion is secondary while the primary lesion of the intestine with endometriosis is rarely observed and occurs as a result of hematogenous introduction of endometrial elements into the intestinal wall. Of all parts of the intestine, endometriosis most often affects the rectum and sigmoid colon (7080%), then the jejunum, less often the cecum. The most rare gastrointestinal tract endometriosis localization is the appendix, the frequency of its lesion is 0.8%. It was carried out in a clinicopathologic analysis of 14 endometriosis cases in various parts of the intestine (4 cases of the small intestine lesions, 2 rectosigmoid part of the large intestine, 2 rectum, 2 sigmoid colon, 3 appendix, 1 combined lesion of the small intestine and the appendix). In most cases, the clinical diagnosis of extragenital endometriosis is difficult, and as a rule women come with complaints typical of acute surgical pathology: intestinal obstruction, appendicitis. An important role in differential diagnosis is given to the ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and abdominal cavity, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic research methods, as well as the connection of clinical symptoms with the menstrual cycle.

Intestinal endometriotic nodules with a length greater than 2.25 cm and affecting more than 27% of the circumference are more likely to undergo segmental resection, rather than linear nodulectomy

Study objective To analyze the efficacy of intestinal ultrasonography with bowel preparation (TVUSBP) for endometriosis mapping in evaluating intestinal endometriosis to choose the surgical technique (segmental resection or linear nodulectomy) for treatment. Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting University Hospital—Center for Advanced Endoscopic Gynecologic Surgery from April 2010 to November 2014. Patient(s) One hundred and eleven women with clinically suspected endometriosis and intestinal endometriotic nodule or intestinal adherence in TVUSBP for endometriosis mapping. Intervention(s) All patients with suspected endometriosis underwent TVUSBP for endometriosis mapping prior to videolaparoscopy for complete excision of endometriosis foci, including intestinal foci, using the linear nodulectomy or segmental resection techniques, depending on the characteristics of the intestinal lesion with confirmation of endometriosis on anatomopathological examination. Measurements and main results Preoperative ultrasonographic assessment of the length of the intestinal nodule, circumference of the intestinal loop affected by the endometriotic lesion, distance from the anal verge and intestinal wall layers infiltrated by endometriosis, as well as other endometriosis sites. Of the 111 patients who participated in the study, 63 (56.7%) presented intestinal endometriotic nodules in ultrasonography, performed by a single examiner (A.L.A.N.), and underwent intestinal surgical treatment of deep endometriosis—linear nodulectomy or segmental resection. The analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that a longitudinal length of the intestinal nodule of 2.25 cm and a loop circumference of 27% are cutoff points separating linear nodulectomy from segmental resection techniques for excising intestinal endometriosis. The information obtained by TVUSBP helps the surgeon and patient, in the preoperative period, to select the surgical technique to be performed for resection of intestinal endometriosis and plan the surgical procedure while taking into account postoperative morbidity.

A rare presentation of rectal endometriosis

Endometriosis is the ectopic growth of viable endometrium outside the uterus, affecting approximately 7% women. It can occur in the absence of visible pelvic disease. Most common sites are gastrointestinal and urinary tract. Common sites of involvement are rectosigmoid (51%), appendix (15%), small bowel (14%), rectum (14%), cecum and colon (5%). Cyclical hematochezia is a definitive, but rare association of intestinal endometriosis. The diagnosis of colonic endometriosis is also difficult owing to the poor diagnostic yield of colonoscopy.

Endometrioma Causing Near-Complete Obstruction of the Sigmoid Colon

Endometriosis is characterized by extra-uterine endometrial gland and stroma implantation. Intestinal endometriosis is believed to affect about one-third of patients with endometriosis 4 ; 72-95% of patients experience recto-sigmoid involvement. 2 , 3 Occasionally, endometriotic lesions precipitate mass effect or infiltrate the bowel wall, mimicking a neoplasm. In the index case, we evaluated a G0P0 41-year-old perimenopausal female with near obstructing sigmoid endometrioma, clinically presented, investigated, and managed in the lines of sigmoid colon carcinoma. Computed Tomography revealed marked distention of the distal descending and proximal sigmoid colon to the level of a [possible] intraluminal mass. CA-125 was 247.4. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed a heterogeneous irregularity adjacent the left adnexa. Flexible sigmoidoscopy to 12-15 cm was unable to pass liquid or visualize the lumen secondary to extrinsic colonic obstruction. She underwent exploratory laparotomy with sigmoidectomy, oversew of rectal stump, and descending colostomy. Left fallopian tube and ovary were adherent to sigmoid mass, therefore, removed en-bloc. Histopathological report revealed extensive endometriosis involving the muscularis propria and serosal surface of colon and ovary, with fibrinous serosal adhesions of the sigmoid colon. While inconsistent clinical presentation, similar radiographic features, and colonoscopy with other inflammatory or malignant lesions of the bowel makes the preoperative diagnosis challenging, colonic endometriosis is to always be considered as one of the differential diagnoses in reproductive age women with patterned, cyclic gastrointestinal symptoms, and intestinal masses of uncertain etiology or diagnosis.

Ileus caused by small bowel, ileocaecal and rectal endometriosis misdiagnosed as Crohn’s disease and managed by synchronous ileocaecal and rectal resection

The reported incidence of intestinal endometriosis varies between 22% and 37%, with bowel obstruction in only 2.3% of cases, but few series report acute obstruction. We report a rare case of acute bowel obstruction due to multiple bilateral deep intestinal endometriosis lesions localised in the ileum, ileocaecal valve and upper rectum, requiring synchronous resection in an emergency setting. A 42-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with a diagnosis of obstructing Crohn’s disease based on abdominal computed tomography with oral contrast showing a thickened terminal ileum with stenosis, compression of the caecum and proximally dilated small bowel loops. Simultaneous ileocaecal resection and segmental resection of the upper rectum with handsewn end-to-end anastomosis between the sigmoid colon and rectum was performed. Owing to the advanced bowel obstruction and significant weight loss, a double barrelled ileoascendostomy was created. The patient had an uneventful recovery. Histological examination revealed transmural endometriosis with involvement of the pericolic fat in both specimens. Although intestinal endometriosis causing acute bowel obstruction is rare, it should be included among the differential diagnoses in young women with recurrent abdominal pain, intermittent diarrhoea and constipation without a family history for inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. Bleeding synchronous with menstruation is not typical for intestinal endometriosis. Right-sided intestinal endometriosis more frequently causes acute bowel obstruction, in most cases due to intussusception.