Tratamento Cirúrgico Minimamente Invasivo de Endometriose Cólica: um diagnóstico pré-operatório difícil

Although rare, extrapelvic endometriosis in women of childbearing age can cause clinically significant complications. The exact prevalence is unknown but the most commonly involved sites are the rectosigmoid and the rectovaginal septum. The preoperative diagnosis may be difficult, due to the lack of pathognomonic symptoms and the poor performance of colonoscopy and colonic biopsies. We present a case of a 39-year-old woman with sigmoid endometriosis, in which the initial diagnostic workup showed the presence of sigmoid colon stenosis, suggesting colon cancer. The patient was selected for sigmoidectomy performed by minimally invasive surgery. Pathologic analysis of the ressected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of colonic endometriosis. Colonic endometriosis is a diagnostic challenge and careful preoperative workup is necessary for optimal treatment. Keywords: endometriosis, colon stenosis, laparoscopy