ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Endometriosis nodes are observed in extra pelvic locations, particularly in gynaecological scars, with the abdominal wall being one of the most frequent locations. The main objective of the study is to review patient characteristics of cases of endometriosis nodes in gynaecological scars. METHODS: A retrospective, observational and descriptive study with a cohort of patients from Hospital 12 de Octubre was conducted from January 2000 to January 2012. We analysed all of the patients who presented with an endometriosis node in a gynaecological scar presentation who had undergone surgery in that period. Descriptive data were collected and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients with an anatomopathological diagnosis of an endometriosis node in a gynaecological scar were found. The following variables were studied: the age at diagnosis (32.5 years +/- 5.5 years), personal and obstetric history, time from surgery to diagnosis (4.2 years +/- 3.4 years), symptoms (a painful mass that grows during menstruation is the most frequent symptom in our patients), technical analyses by computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) or fine needle aspiration (FNA) (77% of the patients), node size (2.5 cm +/- 1.1 cm) and location (caesarean scar, 82%; episiotomy scar, 11.7%; and laparoscopic surgery port, 5.8%), involvement of adjacent structures (29% of the patients), treatment (exeresis with a security margin in all the patients) and other endometriosis locations (14% of the patients). CONCLUSIONS: A high level of suspicion is required to diagnose gynaecological scar endometriosis, which should be suspected in the differential diagnosis of scar masses in reproductive-aged women. Several theories have been proposed to explain the formation of endometriosis nodes in extrauterine localizations. The two of them that seem to be more plausible are the metaplasia and transport theories. Imaging with ultrasound, CT and MR facilitate the diagnosis. FNA could be used for preoperative diagnosis. Treatment must be by node resection with a security margin. In some cases, surgery could be combined with hormonal treatment.
Subject(s)
Cesarean Section , Cicatrix/complications , Endometriosis/diagnosis , Episiotomy , Gynecologic Surgical Procedures , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Vaginal Diseases/diagnosis , Abdominal Wall , Adult , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Cohort Studies , Endometriosis/complications , Female , Humans , Laparoscopy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Retrospective Studies , Skin Diseases/complications , Tertiary Care Centers , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Umbilicus , Vaginal Diseases/complications , Young AdultABSTRACT
La endometritis granulomatosa es una inflamación crónica que se define histológicamente por la presencia de granulomas en un endometrio con un infiltrado linfoplasmocitario. Su hallazgo en una biopsia o pieza de endometrio, debe hacer pensar en tuberculosis (TBC) genital. Esta TBC era una infección rara en la mujer, las localizaciones endometriales, tubárica y ovárica casi siempre secundaria de otra localización. Más rara en mujeres posmenopáusicas, se cree debida a la escasez de los cultivos del endometrio atrófico. El diagnóstico definitivo de TBC genital es el cultivo del bacilo de Koch. La presunción se puede hacer si aparecen granulomas en la biopsia y Mantoux positivo. Su tratamiento es médico y con buen pronóstico. Presentamos 5 casos clínicos en posmenopáusicas, diagnosticados entre junio de 2001 y abril de 2003
Granulomatous endometritis is a chronic inflammation histologically characterized by the presence of granulomas in an endometrium with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. A finding of granulomatous endometritis in the biopsy or endometrial specimen should lead to suspicion of genital tuberculosis. This infection used to be rare in women. Tubal, endometrial and ovarian localizations are almost always secondary to a focus in another location. This entity is less frequent in postmenopausal women, probably because the atrophic endometrium provides a poor environment for growth of the tuberculosis bacillus. The definitive diagnosis of genital tuberculosis is culture of the Koch bacillus. A presumptive diagnosis can be made on the basis of granulomas in biopsy and a positive Mantoux test. Treatment is medical and the prognosis is good. We present five cases of genital tuberculosis in postmenopausal women, diagnosed between June 2001 and April 2003
