{"paper_id":"7b9d1eb9-4ab5-4012-85e1-29d8519c4f15","body_text":"Endometriosis is a common gynecological pathology that occurs in about 8-15% of women in their fertile age ( 1 - 2 ). The main characteristic of the disease is the development of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, resulting in pain during or outside the menstrual cycle.\nThe ovaries and pelvic peritoneum are the most common sites of occurrence. Rare extra-pelvic endometriosis includes the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract and thoracic cavity ( 3 ) whereas the inguinal area is an exceptional location of disease, accounting for about 0.3-0.6% of all patients affected by endometriosis ( 4 ).\nWe report two cases of extra-pelvic round ligament occurrence, primarily referred to the plastic surgeon.\n\nA 37-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to the Department of Plastic Surgery with a two-year history of a lump in her right groin with increasing pain during the menstrual period. Her past medical history was uneventful and she had no previous surgery. During physical examination, a 15 mm painful lump with tense consistency was palpated close to the pubic arch. The left groin was normal.\nMRI detected an oval lesion of approximately 21x17 mm, partly cystic, in most of its superficial portion, and partly finely corpuscular with small hemorrhagic foci.\nDuring surgical lesion resection, performed by a gynecologist surgeon, a thick overlapping of the inguinal ligament was detected close to the pubic tubercle. More in depth, the subcutis appeared to be organized in denser fibrotic manner at the area close to the inguinal ligament where a small nodule was also seen. After its incision, a chocolate-colored material leaked out. Postoperative course was uneventful and pathology examination revealed endometriosis (CD10+).\nGynecologic evaluation and transvaginal ultrasound showed normal uterus and ovaries and no sign suggestive of pelvic endometriosis. No adjuvant treatment was suggested.\nA 26-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to the Department of Plastic Surgery for a solid lesion in right groin. She had no previous surgery and physical examination revealed a 2,5 cm painful mass over the right groin, fixed on the underlying planes and mobile on the overlying ones. Preoperative MRI showed a nodular formation of 25mm in diameter characterized by the presence of small internal hemorrhagic foci ( Figure 1 ) suggestive of endometriosis in the deep subcutaneous tissue of the right paramedian pubic site, close to the insertion of the rectus abdominis muscle.\nAxial T2-weighted MR image\nGynecological evaluation was negative for the presence of endometriosis at other sites and surgical removal of the lesion en bloc with the identification of the round ligament was performed by a gynecologist surgeon ( Figure 2 ). Pathology examination confirmed the presence of endometriosis.\nSubfascial mass fixed to the round ligament\n\nInguinal endometriosis is an uncommon condition ( 5 ) and there are only a few cases reported in the literature ( 6 ). The origin of such inguinal endometriosis is unclear. It may derive from the lack of fusion of Nuck’s channel, an embryological remnant in females that is normally obliterated within the first year of life, with the spread of endometriotic tissue in the inguinal soft tissue ( 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 ). Right side inguinal endometriosis accounts for about 90% of the cases, as the sigmoid colon might probably protect the left inguinal canal ( 6 ).\nAccording to Niitsu et al. there are three types of inguinal endometriosis (IEM) based on the site of occurrence:\nIEM-type I: the endometriosis exists at the wall of a hernia sac or of a Nuck’s canal hydrocele;\nIEM-type II: the endometriosis arises from the round ligament;\nIME-type III: the endometriosis occurs on a subcutaneous level outside the inguinal canal.\nThe average age of the patient at the time of diagnosis is 37 years (range: 22-67) and usually, the disease shows the onset of a lump with a 2-3 cm diameter in the inguinal area, associated in half of the cases, an increased bulk with more painful symptoms during the menstruation ( 5 - 7 ). The reported cases reflect both the common features of type II IEM.\nPreoperative diagnosis and complete en-bloc excision of the lesion is the correct management ( 3 - 12 ).\nDifferential diagnosis should include lipoma, liposarcoma, epidermoid cysts, angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumors, synovial sarcoma as well as metastases from lymphoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, breast, lung, urinary bladder, vulva, ovary and colon carcinoma.\nNon-neoplastic lesions include hernias, endometriosis, Castelman disease, hematoma, round ligament varices and inflammation ( 13 ).\nIn about one third of patients, a mostly inguinal groin hernia is observed ( 14 ) and for this reason, these patients are mainly referred to and treated by general surgeons.\nIn our two cases the subcutaneous lesion prompted referral to plastic surgeons, considering a possible skin lesion. Only in the second case MRI suggested endometriosis and gynecological consultation was performed preoperatively in order to exclude pelvic endometriosis. Moreover, a postoperative gynecological follow-up might be indicated in case of other sites of disease or in the few cases where administration of medical treatment is indicated ( 15 ).\nBoth of our patients did not receive hormonal therapy after surgical treatment as they did not show other site of disease. Furthermore, we cannot discuss the effective of postoperative hormonal therapy for prevention of recurrence, due to the limited number of patients who underwent surgery ( 16 ).\n\nThe presence of a groin mass in women of reproductive age, associated with catamenial pain must raise the suspicion of inguinal endometriosis. Gynecological referral or consultation is mandatory in order to allow the best management of this rare condition.","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}