{"paper_id":"7e58c59c-d946-492d-be4c-3b9a4e6e7e14","body_text":"Subscribe to RSS\nDOI: 10.1055/s-2005-917386\nUS AND COLOR DOPPLER FINDINGS OF ENDOMETRIOMA OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL NEAR CESAREAN SECTION SCAR. A SERIES OF 17 PATIENTS\nPurpose: To describe (US) and Color Doppler (CD) features of endometrioma of the abdominal wall arising near cesarean section scar (CSS).\nMethods and Materials: Seventeen women (mean age 31 years, range 20–42yrs.) underwent US and CD examination of the abdominal wall with high-frequency probes for the presence of a painful nodule near cesarean section scar and/or cyclic/continuous lower abdominal pain.\nAll patients had undergone at least one cesarean section before admission (from 2 to 10 years, mean 4.1yrs). Typical clinical presentation (i.e. mass, cyclic pain and swelling with menses) was recorded in 10 cases.\nAbdominal wall layers of all patients were studied by the same operator with high-frequency linear transducers (7.5MHz) and wide-band high-frequency probe in the latest period (5–10MHz). Color and Power Doppler examination of the focal lesions were carried out by adjusting parameters for detection of low-velocity flow.\nResults: US disclosed 18 subcutaneous nodules (mean size 26mm, range 7–50mm). Common US features were: 1) hypoechoic inhomogeneous echotexture with internal scattered, hyperechoic echoes; 2) irregular margins often spiculated, infiltrating the adjacent tissues; 3) hyperechoic ring of variable width and continuity.\nAt CD exam a single vascular pedicle entering the mass at the periphery was demonstrated in 12 cases. Abundant intralesional vascularization was seen in 4 cases with diameter >3cm, whereas no vascular sign could be detected in 2 lesions under 15mm.\nPower Doppler did not add any significant information to the baseline CD examination.\nAll patients underwent wide surgical excision and pathologic examination disclosed endometrial tissue in all of them. No relapses have been recorded at the clinical and US follow-up (4–32 months).\nConclusions: Albeit rare, endometrioma should be considered in the list of painful subcutaneous masses, especially when located near a CSS. US and CD findings when properly combined with clinical data may substantially contribute to the correct pre-operative diagnosis.","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}