A case of sigmoid endometriosis difficult to differentiate from colon cancer

Philippos Dimoulios, Ioannis E Koutroubakis, Ioannis E. Κoutroubakis, Maria Tzardi, Pavlos Antoniou, Ioannis Matalliotakis, Ioannis M Matalliotakis, Elias A Kouroumalis, Elias Kouroumalis
BMC gastroenterology · 2003 · vol. 3(1) , pp. 18 · doi:10.1186/1471-230x-3-18 · PMID:12906714 · W1511737252
article OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 52 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

This case report details a sigmoid endometriosis mimicking colon cancer in a young woman, with diagnosis confirmed by repeat colonoscopy, ultrasound, and laparoscopy.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although endometriosis with sigmoid serosal involvement is not uncommon in women of childbearing age, the mucosal involvement is rare and differential diagnosis from colon cancer may be difficult due to the lack of pathognomonic symptoms and the poor diagnostic yield of colonoscopy and colonic biopsies. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a young woman with sigmoid endometriosis, in which the initial diagnostic workup suggested colon cancer. Histologic evidence, obtained from a second colonoscopy, along with pelvic ultrasound findings led to the final diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis which was confirmed by laparoscopy. CONCLUSION: Colonic endometriosis is often a diagnostic challenge and should be considered in young women with symptoms from the lower gastrointestinal tract.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Colonic Neoplasms Endometriosis Sigmoid Diseases Adult Colonic Neoplasms Colonoscopy Diagnosis, Differential Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Humans Sigmoid Diseases Sigmoid Diseases

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References (20)

Cited by (50)

Source provenance

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK