Perineal endometriosis in episiotomy scar with anal sphincter involvement: report of two cases and review of the literature

Perianal endometrioma presented as perianal abscess: report of two cases

Perianal endometriosis is a rare clinical presentation of the extrauterine appearance of endometrium reported in <1% of the cases. The condition is accompanied by perianal cyclic pain and a palpable mass. If diagnosed by physical examination only, the condition may be easily misinterpreted as a perianal abscess and treated improperly with incision, thus resulting in "abscess recurrence." Additional diagnostic imaging such as endoanal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging should be mandatory to provide an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment resulting in low recurrence rates. We present two cases of perianal endometriomas initially diagnosed and treated as perianal abscesses.

Perianal Endometriosis: An Uncommon Site for a Common Problem

Endometriosis is the presence of uterine glands and stroma outside of the uterus. It is highly prevalent in women of reproductive age. It is usually found in the pelvis, with most cases being found on the peritoneum, ovaries, or deep in the pelvis. Extraperitoneal endometriosis is uncommon. Perianal endometriosis has an incidence of only 0.2%. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman with recurrent pain and swelling in the perineum at the site of a previous episiotomy scar. Initial imaging and assessment determined this to be scar tissue. Following re-presentation, it was mistakenly diagnosed as a perianal abscess, and the patient underwent incision and drainage. The wound failed to heal with significant induration. Further assessment of the wound was undertaken under general anesthesia. An excision of the affected area was performed, with histological analysis confirming endometriosis. This case highlights that extra-peritoneal endometriosis is a rare but treatable cause of recurrent, cyclical pelvic pain and swelling in the perineum. A high index of clinical suspicion is required due to its ability to mimic other pathologies, including abscesses and cysts. The primary management of perianal endometriosis is surgical excision. Where complete excision is not possible, medical management with hormone therapy should be considered.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Vulvo-Perineal Endometriosis: A Systematic Review

Objective: To describe the available knowledge on vulvo-perineal endometriosis including its diagnosis, clinical management and recurrence rate.

Methods: We followed the PRISMA guidelines for Systematic Reviews and our study was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020202441). The terms “Endometriosis” and “Perineum” or “Vulva” were used as keywords. Cochrane Library, Medline/Pubmed, Embase and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched. Papers in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or Italian from inception to July 30, 2020 were considered. Reference lists of included articles and other literature source such as Google Scholar were also manually scrutinized in order to identify other relevant studies. Two independent reviewers screened potentially eligible studies according to inclusion criteria.

Results: Out of 539 reports, 90 studies were eligible including a total of 283 patients. Their mean age was 32.7 ± 7.6 years. Two hundred sixty-three (95.3%) presenting with vulvo-perineal endometriosis have undergone either episiotomy, perineal trauma or vaginal injury or surgery. Only 13 patients (4.7%) developed vulvo-vaginal endometriosis spontaneously i.e., without any apparent condition favoring it. The reasons that motivated the patients to take medical advice were vulvo-perineal cyclical pain increasing during menstruations (98.2% of the patients, n = 278). Out of the 281 patients for whom a clinical examination was described, 274 patients (97.5%) showed a vulvo-perineal nodule, mass or swelling while six presented with bluish cutaneous lesions (2.1%) and 1 with bilateral polyps of the labia minora (0.4%). All but one patients underwent surgical excision of their lesions but only 88 patients (28.1%) received additional hormonal therapy. The recurrence rate was 10.2% (29 patients) considering a median follow-up period of 10 months (based on 61 studies).

Conclusion: In conclusion, vulvo-perineal endometriosis is a rare entity with approximately 300 cases reported in the literature since 1923. With the available knowledge shown in this systematic review, we encourage all practitioners to think about perineal endometriosis in case of perineal cyclical pain with or without previous perineal damage. Diagnosis should be done with clinical exam, perineal ultrasound and pelvic MRI when available. In case of anal sphincter involvement, perianal ultrasound should be performed. Surgical excision of the lesion should be realized in order to remove the lesion and to confirm the diagnosis histologically. Hormonal treatment could be proposed to attempt to decrease the size of a large lesion before surgery or to avoid recurrence of the lesion. As evidence-based approach to the diagnosis, treatment and recurrence rate of affected patients remains a challenge given its low prevalence, the variations in management found in the articles included and the limited quality of available studies, we suggest that a prospective database on vulvo-perineal endometriosis should be generated to increase knowledge but also awareness among healthcare professionals and optimize patients' care.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42020202441.

Clinical characteristics of perineal endometriosis: A case series

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of perineal endometriosis (PEM) is low among women with endometriosis (EM) treated by surgery. It manifests as hard or cystic nodules with pain in the perineal wounds and surrounding areas. Implantation theory is regarded as the main pathogenesis of PEM. There are few clinical studies on the incidence and clinical characteristics of PEM. This study aims to summarize the clinical data of 14 PEM cases and analyze the factors that may be related to the incubation period and pain.

AIM

To analyze the medical history, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and treatment effect of PEM.

METHODS

The present study is a case series. We collected the clinical data and follow-up data of 14 patients with PEM who visited The International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University from January 2009 to December 2019. Paired t test and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The 14 patients included had a history of vaginal delivery. All patients underwent PEM lesion resection. Three patients were treated by levator ani muscle repair at the same time and 1 patient underwent extensive PEM lesion resection and anal sphincter repair. Body mass index (BMI) at delivery and BMI within 1 mo after delivery were negatively correlated with the latent period, respectively (R² = 0.53/0.86, P < 0.05). The average visual analog scale score in lesions at the third month after surgery was 0.57 ± 1.28 for all patients, which was significantly lower than that prior to surgery (P < 0.05). One patient relapsed during the sixth month after surgery, and to date, no recurrence occurred after the second surgery.

CONCLUSION

The higher the BMI during delivery and within 1 mo after delivery, the shorter the incubation period of PEM. It is very important to evaluate the location of lesions before surgery. Surgical resection of the lesion is the best treatment for PEM and results in significant alleviation of symptoms. Therefore, following the diagnosis of PEM, immediate surgery is recommended.

Comparison of clear cell carcinoma and benign endometriosis in episiotomy scar - two cases report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Malignant endometriosis in an episiotomy scar is rare; only seven cases have been reported previously. Here, we compare two cases of benign endometriosis and clear cell carcinoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

The first case was a 54-year-old woman who presented with a large perineal lesion in her episiotomy scar with high 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. This location had a history of endometriosis many years ago. She underwent radical excision of the mass and bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the presence of clear cell carcinoma arising from endometriosis. Assisted radiotherapy was performed after surgery due to a positive lymph node. No recurrence was detected over a 1-year follow-up period. The second case deals with a 3 × 2 cm mass in the episiotomy scar of a 33-year-old woman. Part of the anal sphincter was resected because of the close proximity of the lesion. Because the disease lay very close to the anus, she received anal sphincter reconstruction combined with mass excision. Pathology result showed typical endometrial glands and interstitial tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Deleterious change only happens in patients experiencing perineal endometriosis. Complete excision is crucial for this form of disease; sometimes impairment of the anal sphincter is also necessary. Patients with malignancy required a combination of treatments in order to improve their prognosis.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of anal endometriosis: report of four cases

BACKGROUND

The presence of endometriosis in the anal canal and perianal tissues is rare and difficult to suspect at clinical examination. We report our experience with preoperative ultrasound evaluation of four cases of anal endometriosis.

METHODS

Four patients were evaluated by transperineal and high-resolution three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography.

RESULTS

In 3 of 4 women, the lesions involved old episiotomy scars. Anal endometriosis appeared as hypoechoic cystic lesions with areas of microcalcification, not well delimited and highly vascularized. The lesions either involved the anal sphincter (n = 2, one within the rectovaginal septum) or were localized superficially in the ischiorectal space (n = 2). Surgery and pathologic exam confirmed the ultrasonographic findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonographic findings of anal endometriosis are characteristics and may allow accurate preoperative staging of the disease.

Spontaneous hymeneal endometriosis: a rare cause of dyspareunia

Vulvar endometriosis can occur after surgery or trauma and cause dyspareunia. A 30-year-old woman presented with orificial dyspareunia lasting for 5 months. Her history was marked by a vaginal birth without perineal injury and the removal of a cyst from the left Bartholin's gland. On examination, we observed a selectively painful, superficial and retractile lesion, 5 mm in diameter at the junction of the hymen at some distance from the bartholinitis scar. Endometriosis was suspected due to the exacerbation of pain during menses. The surgery consisted of excision of the hymenal area of the painful lesion. Pathological examination confirmed the presence of endometrial tissue. The painful symptoms resolved and no additional treatment was administered. Any vulvar lesion, regardless of its appearance and location, can be related to endometriosis. Surgical resection is recommended to relieve the symptoms and provide histological proof.

Obstetric Scar Endometriosis: Retrospective Study on 19 Cases and Review of the Literature

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of functioning endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. This disease is one of the most common gynecologic disorders in reproductive age women. It generally occurs in pelvic cavity. But extrapelvic location has been defined (such as extremities, central nervous system, lungs, pleurae, liver, umbilicus, pericardium, urinary tract, intestines, and surgical scar tissue). Scar endometriosis is a rare disease and defined as presence of endometriotic lesions on the abdominal (such as cesarean section and hysterectomy) or vaginal (episiotomy) excision line. It is difficult to diagnose due to the extreme variability in presentation. The symptoms are nonspecific, typically involving pain, swelling at the incision site at the time of menstruation. Excision and histopathologic examination are necessary for diagnosis. We present a case series of obstetric scar endometriosis and review of the literature.

[Iatrogenic endometriosis during reproductive age: main issues?]

Among endometriotic lesions a small proportion is secondary to various medical activities, and may be considered as iatrogenic. Any medical or surgical procedure increasing the menstrual flow or the retrograde flow bears a potential risk: conization, hydrotubation or copper intra-uterine device. Surgical procedures, by laparotomy or laparoscopic approach, are able to favor transport and cutaneous seeding of endometrial tissue, especially when a hysterotomy has been performed. Diagnosis and treatment of these lesions are today standardized. Few preventive measures are available, besides adequate surgical procedure, but none has been properly evaluated, mainly because these lesions are not frequent.

The clinical features and management of perineal endometriosis with anal sphincter involvement: a clinical analysis of 31 cases

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the appropriate measures for diagnosing and treating perineal endometriosis (PEM) with anal sphincter involvement.

METHODS

Between January 1992 and April 2011, the clinical features, diagnosis and management of 31 patients who were diagnosed with PEM with anal sphincter involvement at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed using their clinical records. A range of 6-78 months of outpatient follow-up after surgery were conducted for these 31 patients but was extended by telephone interviews with 29 patients conducted in December 2011.

RESULTS

All 31 patients had a history of vaginal delivery. The level of serum CA(125) was elevated in only 2 (6.5%) cases. All cases received surgical treatment, which included narrow excision (NE, close to the edge of the endometrioma) with primary sphincteroplasty (PSp) for 30 cases and incomplete excision (IE) for 1 case. Of the 30 cases in the NE group, 20 (66.7%) received hormone therapy preoperatively. Up until December 2011, there was one recurrence (3.6%) of PEM in the NE group. PEM relapse occurred in the IE patient 6 years after the initial IE surgery. Perineal abscesses were found in one patient post-operatively. No complaint of dyspareunia and no fecal incontinence episodes were observed during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our own experience, NE and PSp may be indicated for the treatment of PEM with anal sphincter involvement.

Perineal scar endometriosis ten years after Miles' procedure for rectal cancer: Case report and review of the literature

Endometriosis within a perineal scar after a Miles' procedure has not been previously reported in literature. We report a case of a 35-year-old-female who was treated 10 years before at the same institution for a low rectal cancer that presents with two discrete subcutaneous bulges within her perineal wound. Since the patient was asymptomatic and the complete work up for recurrent disease showed no evidence of malignancy, first line therapy was conservative. After two pregnancies and a caesarean section, the patient presented at our observation with enlarged and tender perineal nodules. The patient was treated with a wide excision of the perineal scar en-bloc with the nodules. Final pathology report was consistent with scar endometriosis.

Scar endometrioma following obstetric surgical incisions: retrospective study on 33 cases and review of the literature

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

The incidence of scar endometrioma ranges from 0.03 to 3.5%. Certain factors relating to knowledge of the clinical history of the disease make correct diagnosis and treatment difficult. The aim here was to identify the clinical pattern of the disease and show surgical results. The literature on this topic was reviewed.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective descriptive study at Hospital Municipal Maternidade - Escola Dr. Mário de Moraes Altenfelder Silva.

METHODS

Data from the medical records of patients with preoperative diagnoses of scar endometrioma who underwent operations between 2001 and 2007 were surveyed and reviewed. The postoperative diagnosis came from histopathological analysis. The main information surveyed was age, obstetric antecedents, symptoms, tumor location, size and palpation, duration of complaint, diagnosis and treatment. All patients underwent tumor excision with a safety margin.

RESULTS

There were 33 patients, of mean age 30.1 +/- 5.0 years (range: 18-41 years). The total incidence was 0.11%: 0.29% in cesarean sections and 0.01% in vaginal deliveries. Twenty-nine tumors (87.9%) were located in cesarean scars, two (6.0%) in episiotomy scars and two (6.0%) in the umbilical region. The main symptom was localized cyclical pain (66.7%), of mean duration 30.5 months (+/- 23). Surgical treatment was successful in all cases.

CONCLUSION

This is an uncommon disease. The most important diagnostic characteristic is coincidence of painful symptoms with menstruation. Patients undergoing cesarean section are at greatest risk: relative risk of 27.37 (P < 0.01). The surgical treatment of choice is excision of the endometrioma with a safety margin.

Vulvar endometriosis in surgical scar after excision of the Bartholin gland: report of a case

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease characterized by growth of endometrial glands and stroma outside the endometrium. Implants are most commonly found in the pelvis but can occur in many other sites. Vulvar involvement of endometriosis is extremely rare. A case of vulvar endometriosis is presented. Endometriosis was infiltrating the subcutaneous scar tissue of left labia minora after cystectomy of Bartholin gland for abscess that has recurred several times despite office-based treatment.