Endometriosis causing extensive intestinal obstruction simulating carcinoma of the sigmoid colon: a case report and review of the literature.

Endometriosis with intestinal serosal involvement is not uncommon in women of childbearing age, however, presentation as colon obstruction is rare. Lack of pathognomonic symptoms makes diagnosis difficult, the main problem being differential diagnosis with neoplasm, even intraoperatively. Reported here is a case of extensive bowel obstruction due to sigmoid colon endometriosis in a 43-year-old woman who presented with signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction. Barium enema showed sigmoid obstruction; subsequent exploratory laparotomy showed the sigmoid colon surrounded by fibrous tissue, leading to its angulation and extensive lumen obstruction. Left oophorectomy and radical resection of descending and sigmoid colon as for bowel carcinoma were successfully employed. Pathological examination revealed endometriosis in the bowel wall with preservation of the mucosa. Aetiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis and therapeutic options for intestinal obstruction due to endometriosis are discussed.

Intraperitoneal haemorrhage secondary to perforation of uterine fibroid after cystic degeneration. Unusual CT findings resembling malignant pelvic tumor: case report.

Intraperitoneal haemorrhage is a rare complication of myomatous uterus. We present a case of a 37-year-old white nullipara who presented in the emergency room with acute, lower-abdominal pain which reportedly started after riding over a bump on a motorcycle. On examination, the abdomen was diffusely tender, with moderate spasm and rebound tenderness in both iliac fossae. Pregnancy test was negative. Computed tomography revealed a soft-tissue mass with cystic components and inhomogeneous appearance. Free fluid in the peritoneal cavity suggested ascites. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy. A ruptured, actively bleeding, subserosal, nonpedunculated, cystic degenerated uterine fibroid was found, as well as approximately two liters of free, bloodstained peritoneal fluid and clots. Subtotal hysterectomy without salpingo-oophorectomy was performed, followed by evacuation of the fluid and clots. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. In conclusion, definitive, preoperative diagnosis of a perforated, haemorrhaging, uterine fibroid is difficult; exploratory laparotomy is both diagnostic and therapeutic in this rare, life-threatening condition.