Exceptional cause of bowel obstruction: rectal endometriosis mimicking carcinoma of rectum--a case report.

Selim Sassi, Sélim Sassi, Mahdi Bouassida, Hassen Touinsi, Mohamed Mongi Mighri, Sonia Baccari, Fathi Chebbi, Khaled Bouzeidi, Sadok Sassi
The Pan African medical journal · 2011 · vol. 10 , pp. 33 · PMID:22187615 · W2171523695
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Abstract

Endometriosis with intestinal serosal involvement is not uncommon in women of childbearing age. However, endometriosis presenting as colon obstruction is rare and occurs in less than 1% of cases. The Lack of pathognomonic signs makes the diagnosis difficult, mostly because the main differential diagnosis is with neoplasm, even during the intervention. Reported here is a case of a 35-year -old woman presenting with bowel obstruction due to rectal endometriosis. The patient presented signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction. Colonoscopy and radiological findings were suggestive of rectal carcinoma. Surgeons performed an anterior resection with right salpingectomy. Histopathology diagnosed bowel endometriosis. This case demonstrates the difficulty of establishing an accurate pre- and intra- operative diagnosis and the ability of intestinal endometriosis to mimic colon cancer.

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mesh:D004715endometriosisbowel_endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Intestinal Obstruction Rectal Diseases Rectal Diseases Rectal Neoplasms Adult Diagnosis, Differential Endometriosis Female Humans Intestinal Obstruction Rectal Diseases Rectal Neoplasms

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