Isolated Umbilical Endometriosis: A Case Report

Despite many years of theories, the pathogenesis of endometriosis has remained poorly understood (Novak et al 1974). Classically, it involves the pelvic organs including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic peritoneum, uterus, urinary bladder, rectum, recto-vaginal septum amongst others. Extrapelvic sites include the small and large intestines amongst others. The involvement of these extra-pelvic sites often follows surgical implantation of endometrium at these sites during intra-abdominal operations. Two decades ago, it was thought that endometriosis was rare among Africans (Ekwempu 1980, Giwa-Osagie et al 1988). But unpublished clinical observation suggests that pelvic endometriosis may not be as rare in Africans as previously thought. Isolated umbilical endometriosis is rather rare. Although there are some case reports from a number of Caucasian countries (Hussain et al 2003, Zollner et al 2003, Sidani et al 2002, Von Stemm et al 1999), only one case has been reported from Nigeria (Okunlola et al 2002). For this reason, we here present one case that we treated recently. West African Journal of Radiology Vol.7(1) 2000: 41-43