Background
Abdominal wall endometriosis is a rare condition, often occurring as a complication following gynecologic surgery, especially caesarean sections. Its diagnosis is frequently delayed due to non-specific symptoms and a wide range of differential diagnoses.
Case Description: We report A 25-year-old woman, para 1 by caesarean section, presented with cyclic left lower abdominal pain and swelling, worsening during menstruation. Physical examination revealed a firm, nontender mass near the caesarean scar. Imaging studies including ultrasound and color Doppler identified a hypoechoic lesion in the rectus abdominis muscle with internal vascularity. Fine needle aspiration cytology supported a diagnosis of endometriosis.
Intervention and Outcome: Surgical excision under spinal anaesthesia was performed in complete removal of the lesion, with no postoperative complications. The patient remained symptom-free at six-month follow-up.
References
Gruber TM, Mechsner S. Pathogenesis of endometriosis: the origin of pain and subfertility. Cells. 2021;10(6):1381.
Stochino-Loi E, Millochau J-C, Angioni S, Touleimat S, Abo C, Chanavaz-Lacheray I, et al. Relationship between patient age and disease features in a prospective cohort of 1560 women affected by endometriosis. Journal of minimally invasive gynecology. 2020;27(5):1158-66.
Ng K-S, Lee PJ. Pelvic exenteration: pre-, intra-, and post-operative considerations. Surgical Oncology. 2021;37:101546.
Bazot M, Daraï E. Diagnosis of deep endometriosis: clinical examination, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and other techniques. Fertility and sterility. 2017;108(6):886-94.
Machairiotis N, Stylianaki A, Dryllis G, Zarogoulidis P, Kouroutou P, Tsiamis N, et al. Extrapelvic endometriosis: a rare entity or an under diagnosed condition? Diagnostic pathology. 2013;8(1):194.
Gayer G, Park C, editors. Abdominal Wall masses: CT findings and clues to differential diagnosis. Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI; 2018: Elsevier.
Yovich JL. Understanding endometriosis: clarifying Sampson’s theories with a personal perspective. Med J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;8(1):1130.
Batt RE. Sampson’s theory of implantation endometriosis. A History of Endometriosis: Springer; 2011. p. 143-67.
Pitot MA, Bookwalter CA, Dudiak KM. Müllerian duct anomalies coincident with endometriosis: a review. Abdominal Radiology. 2020;45(6):1723-40.
Vinatier D, Orazi G, Cosson M, Dufour P. Theories of endometriosis. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2001;96(1):21-34.
Konrad L, Dietze R, Kudipudi PK, Horné F, Meinhold-Heerlein I. Endometriosis in MRKH cases as a proof for the coelomic metaplasia hypothesis? Reproduction. 2019;158(2):R41-R7.
Gylfason JT, Kristjansson KA, Sverrisdottir G, Jonsdottir K, Rafnsson V, Geirsson RT. Pelvic endometriosis diagnosed in an entire nation over 20 years. American journal of epidemiology. 2010;172(3):237-43.
Dmowski WP, Lesniewicz R, Rana N, Pepping P, Noursalehi M. Changing trends in the diagnosis of endometriosis: a comparative study of women with pelvic endometriosis presenting with chronic pelvic pain or infertility. Fertility and sterility. 1997;67(2):238-43.
Khan Z, Zanfagnin V, El-Nashar SA, Famuyide AO, Daftary GS, Hopkins MR. Risk factors, clinical presentation, and outcomes for abdominal wall endometriosis. Journal of minimally invasive gynecology. 2017;24(3):478-84.
Carsote M, Terzea DC, Valea A, Gheorghisan-Galateanu A-A. Abdominal wall endometriosis (a narrative review). International journal of medical sciences. 2020;17(4):536.
Paramythiotis D, Karlafti E, Tsomidis I, Iraklis G, Malliou P, Karakatsanis A, et al. Abdominal wall endometriosis: a case report. Pan African Medical Journal. 2022;41(1).
Machairiotis N, Vasilakaki S, Thomakos N. Inflammatory mediators and pain in endometriosis: a systematic review. Biomedicines. 2021;9(1):54.
Chantalat E, Valera M-C, Vaysse C, Noirrit E, Rusidze M, Weyl A, et al. Estrogen receptors and endometriosis. International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;21(8):2815.
Raza S, Maqsood R, Siddiqi HA. Abdominal wall endometriosis. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2010;20(1):60-1.
Ramirez NBL. Cesarean Scar Endometriosis Incidence and Risk Factors After Primary Cesarean Delivery: The University of Arizona; 2024.
Saliba C, Jaafoury H, El Hajj M, Nicolas G, Ahmad HH. Abdominal wall endometriosis: a case report. Cureus. 2019;11(2).
Filip L, Duic? F, Pr?datu A, Cre?oiu D, Suciu N, Cre?oiu SM, et al. Endometriosis associated infertility: a critical review and analysis on etiopathogenesis and therapeutic approaches. Medicina. 2020;56(9):460.
Smolarz B, Szy??o K, Romanowicz H. Endometriosis: epidemiology, classification, pathogenesis, treatment and genetics (review of literature). International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;22(19):10554.
Moore J, Copley S, Morris J, Lindsell D, Golding S, Kennedy S. A systematic review of the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology: The Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2002;20(6):630-4.
Guerriero S, Conway F, Pascual MA, Graupera B, Ajossa S, Neri M, et al. Ultrasonography and atypical sites of endometriosis. Diagnostics. 2020;10(6):345.
Kinkel K, Frei KA, Balleyguier C, Chapron C. Diagnosis of endometriosis with imaging: a review. European radiology. 2006;16(2):285-98.
Clement PB. The pathology of endometriosis: a survey of the many faces of a common disease emphasizing diagnostic pitfalls and unusual and newly appreciated aspects. Advances in anatomic pathology. 2007;14(4):241-60.
Hemalatha A, Sindhuram S, Sushma S, Suma J, Varna I, Aditya A. Ultrasound Guided Fnac of Abdominal–Pelvic Masses-The Pathologists’ Perspective. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR. 2013;7(2):273.
Donnez J, Dolmans M-M. Endometriosis and medical therapy: from progestogens to progesterone resistance to GnRH antagonists: a review. Journal of clinical medicine. 2021;10(5):1085.
Working group of ESGE E, WES, Keckstein J, Becker CM, Canis M, Feki A, et al. Recommendations for the surgical treatment of endometriosis. Part 2: deep endometriosis. Human Reproduction Open. 2020;2020(1):hoaa002.
Zhang P, Sun Y, Zhang C, Yang Y, Zhang L, Wang N, et al. Cesarean scar endometriosis: presentation of 198 cases and literature review. BMC women's health. 2019;19(1):14.
Keckstein J, Becker CM, Canis M, Feki A, Grimbizis GF, Hummelshoj L, et al. Recommendations for the surgical treatment of endometriosis. Part 2: deep endometriosis. Facts, Views & Vision in Obgyn. 2019;11(4):269-97.
Nouri K, Ott J, Krupitz B, Huber JC, Wenzl R. Family incidence of endometriosis in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives: case-control study. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. 2010;8(1):85.
Guo S-W. The quest for genetic sequence variants conferring risk of endometriosis. Human Reproductive Genetics: Elsevier; 2020. p. 91-109.