Scar endometriosis, a tricky diagnosis
Nikoletta Rapti 1Dionysios Katsaounis 2Georgios Rallis 3Stella Ioannou 4Dimosthenis Rammos 5Dimitrios Filippou 5Panagiotis Skandalakis 5
1 Surgical Department, Argos General Hospital, Argolida, Greece; Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
2 Surgical Department, General Hospital of Nikaia, Piraeus, Greece
3 Surgical Department, General Hospital of Athens “Elpis”, Athens, Greece
4 Surgical Department, General Hospital of Nikaia, Piraeus, Greece; Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
5 Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2018, 89(3), 100825;
Published: 1 May 2018
Copyright © 2018 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
Abstract
BACKROUND: Abdominal wall endometrioma is a rare condition, which usually develops in surgical scar of a Cesarean section (C-section) or of a hysterectomy. Scar endometriosis is a misdiagnosed condition in general surgery, since it mim- ics other surgical conditions. Diagnosis is mainly based upon a high index of suspicion. AIM: The purpose of this study is to highlight the characteristics of this rare pathology and assess the diagnostic algo- rithm and therapeutic options. METHODS: The article is a case series and therefore no specific methods have been applicable. RESULTS: In the current study, we present a case series of seven cases with abdominal pain on the Pfannenstiel incision, treated in our department during a two years period, between 2014 and 2016, followed by a brief review of the literature. CONCLUSION: Scar endometriosis may be difficult to diagnose as it is an unfamiliar entity to general surgeons. This con- dition can be confused with other surgical conditions. Imaging methods, such as ultrasound or CT-scan should be used for differential diagnosis. The prevention of scar endometriosis may also be important. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for scar endometriosis.