1 Jul 2014Article
Extra-genital endometriosis
Angela Pezzolla 1Serafina Lattarulo 1Maria Fiore 1Domenico Piscitelli 1Gennaro Fabiano 1Nicola Palasciano 1
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation - DETO, Bari University Hospital Policlinico, Bari, Italy
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2014, 85(4), 341-346;
Published: 1 Jul 2014
Copyright © 2014 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Even if endometriosis is usually an exclusively gynecological issue, atypical locations fall within the interest of general surgery. The aim of our retrospective study focuses on the need for surgeons to face this rare condition, in order to avoid unnecessary or inadequate treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical presentations, previous endometriosis diagnosis and surgical acts on a group of 60 patients, whose mean age was 38.2 years old, with extra-genital endometriosis. RESULTS: Among the 60 cases of extra-genital endometriosis collected, bowel foci, 37 cases - 61,7% - were the most frequent; then we collected 13 (21.7%) skin, 7 (11.7%) urinary tract and 3 (5%) whole pelvis localizations. It’s important to underline the finding of 2 aggressive malignant transformations. CONCLUSIONS: Extra-genital endometriosis should be considered as a cause of otherwise inexplicable abdominal pain in young women. Since imaging techniques lack in specificity, we propose explorative laparoscopy as a powerful diagnostic means. Moreover laparoscopy can be turned into a therapeutic act, also limiting the adherences issue, which is associated with this illness and would worsen with open surgery. Extra-genital endometriosis should be treated also to avoid rare, but possible, risk of cancerization.
Keywords
- Endometriosis
- Extra-genital endometriosis
- Laparoscopy