Endometriomas de la pared abdominal. Revisión de una serie de 17 casos

Abstract

BackgroundEndometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. This finding occurs in 3 to 15% of women of reproductive age, and is most frequently located in the abdominal cavity. Occasionally, endometriosis is present as a painful mass in the abdominal wall, near a surgical scar, or in the umbilical or inguinal area. The aim of the present study was to review the incidence, location, symptoms and treatment of abdominal wall endometriomas in our center. Patients and methodsPrompted by a new case of endometrioma arising from a Pfannenstiel scar, we reviewed 17 cases of abdominal wall endometrioma (AWE) diagnosed since 1990, Symptoms, location, clinical findings, and the various etiopathogenic theories were analyzed. ResultsSince 1990, 17 patients with AWE underwent surgery. Two endometriomas were located in the umbilical area, 4 in the inguinal region, and 11 arose from surgical scar sites from prior gynecological or obstetric surgery. Most of the tumors were incidental findings during surgical procedures. Preoperative diagnosis with computed tomography (CT) scan was made in 4 patients. Treatment was wide surgical excision. All patients were subsequently referred to the gynecology service for follow-up and further treatment. ConclusionsAlthough AWE are uncommon, these tumors should be suspected in women of reproductive age with any mass in the inguinal or umbilical region, or near a gynecologic or obstetric scar. Abdominal CT scanning and fine-needle biopsy may confirm the diagnosis. Treatment consists of surgical excision.