An unexpected presentation of endometriosis--a "parasitic" cyst of the bowel in a menopausal woman on hormone therapy

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This report describes a "parasitic" endometriotic cyst of the small bowel.</p><p><b>CLINICAL PICTURE</b>A menopausal woman with a pelvic mass presenting years after commencing hormone therapy.</p><p><b>TREATMENT</b>We performed laparoscopic excision of a cystic tumour attached to the small bowel with a solitary vascular pedicle.</p><p><b>OUTCOME</b>Histology confirmed it to be an endometriotic cyst of ovarian origin, probably resulting from spillage during previous surgery and reactivation with hormone therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We discuss the possible aetiology of this unusual presentation of endometriosis and review the literature on parasitic gynaecological tumours.</p>