A case of endometriosis causing acute large bowel obstruction

A quality-of-life meta-analysis comparing pre- and postoperative symptoms in women undergoing colorectal resection for deep infiltrating endometriosis

AIM

Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) may involve the rectum or colon and is associated with pain, gastrointestinal dysfunction and reduced quality of life (QoL). While hormonal treatment may be effective, surgical intervention including colorectal resection can be required. Colorectal resection can result in functional changes and complications, which can also impair QoL. The aim of this study is to examine all available comparative pre- and postoperative data on QoL and symptom outcomes following colorectal resection for DIE.

METHOD

An electronic database search was conducted for studies reporting pre- and postoperative QoL and symptom outcomes following colorectal resection for DIE. The study was registered with PROSPERO and followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. Data were combined using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies including 1142 patients were included. Colorectal resection was associated with improved outcomes for all items in the SF-36 QoL questionnaire as well as symptom outcomes including dysmenorrhoea, chronic pelvic pain and deep dyspareunia. Importantly, the gastrointestinal QoL index was significantly improved (mean difference 24.50, 95% CI 15.93-33.08, p < 0.0001) as was dyschezia (mean difference -4.1, 95% CI -4.77 to -3.42, p < 0.0001). There was no change in low anterior resection syndrome scores (mean difference -5.28, 95% CI -11.65 to 1.10, p = 0.1046).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a significant postoperative improvement in patient-reported QoL, pain symptoms and gastrointestinal function following colorectal resection for endometriosis.

Intestinal endometriosis amongst other extra-pelvic endometriosis foci presenting as acute/subacute bowel obstruction in women of reproductive age: a retrospective case series study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinicopathological correlates of intestinal endometriosis, amongst other extra-pelvic endometriosis foci, presenting as bowel obstruction in general surgery practice.

METHODS

A total of 23 female patients (mean ± SD age: 34.9 ± 6.5 years) who underwent abdominal surgery for acute bowel obstruction and received histopathological diagnosis of endometriosis were included in this retrospective case-series study. Data on patient characteristics, obstetric history, preoperative laboratory and imaging findings, preoperative provisional diagnosis, type of surgical intervention and the pathological diagnosis, and postoperative outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Definitive diagnoses on histopathological work-up involved intestinal endometriosis (52.2%), scar endometriosis (26.0%), ovarian endometriosis (13.0%) and inguinal endometriosis (8.7%). Postoperative complication, reoperation and recurrence rates were 8.7%, 8.7%, and 13.0%, respectively. Intestinal endometriosis, when compared to other extra-pelvic endometriosis foci (scar and inguinal), was associated with significantly higher preoperative platelet counts (332.0(284.0-528.0)vs. 239.0(223.0-370.0) 103/µL, p = 0.010), lower albumin levels (4.0(2.7-4.7) vs. 4.5(4.2-4.9) g/dL, p = 0.029), higher rates of preoperative CT utilization (91.7% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001) and emergent surgery (83.3% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.001) and longer LOS (median 4.5 (1.0-26.0) vs. 1.0(1.0-1.0) days, p = 0.001) along with a non-significant tendency for higher postoperative complication (16.7% vs. 0.0%) and ICU stay (25.0% vs. 0.0%) rates.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed intestinal endometriosis, predominantly in the terminal ileum/appendix, was the most common extra-pelvic cause of acute bowel obstruction. The scar endometriosis, inguinal endometriosis and ovarian endometriosis appeared to be other potential but less prevalent aetiologies in this setting.

Rectosigmoid Endometriosis Causing Large Bowel Obstruction

Large bowel obstruction is most commonly due to colorectal carcinoma, diverticular disease or volvulus. Rare causes of large bowel obstruction like endometriosis may occur in premenopausal women and diagnosis of large bowel endometriosis can be challenging to confirm preoperatively. Hence, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for rare causes of large bowel obstruction like endometriosis. This may require complete surgical resection of the involved bowel to eliminate the risk of local recurrence.

Large Endometrioma That Triggered a Hypertensive Emergency: A Case Report

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition in women of reproductive age and has variable symptomology such as pelvic pain, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. Endometriomas are a form of endometriosis and are characterized by cystic masses most commonly found on the ovaries. This case discusses the management of a rare occurrence of a 25-cm endometrioma in a patient without a prior diagnosis of endometriosis, who presented to the emergency room in an acute hypertensive emergency. It is believed that the large cyst caused a mass effect against renal vasculature precipitating renovascular hypertension that required immediate intervention. This case was approached with minimally invasive surgical removal of the cyst and lysis of adhesions without postoperative complications.

Endometriosis of the Colon and Pericolic Lymph Nodes Presenting as Cecal Volvulus

Endometriosis, characterized by the ectopic implantation of endometrial tissue, typically involves pelvic structures but infrequently extends to extrapelvic sites such as the gastrointestinal tract. In this report, we present a case of a 44-year-old woman with diffuse abdominal discomfort and constipation. Computed tomography imaging revealed a mass in the cecum, leading to diagnostic colonoscopy and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging. Ultimately, laparoscopy revealed a puckered cecal mass suspected to be invasive malignancy but pathologically confirmed as extensive endometriosis involving the colonic wall and pericolic lymph nodes. Cecal volvulus secondary to endometriosis is exceedingly rare, with surgical intervention being the primary treatment modality. Endometriosis-associated gastrointestinal involvement often masquerades as irritable bowel syndrome, highlighting the importance of considering atypical presentations in young women. This case underscores the need to maintain a high index of suspicion for unusual etiologies in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and atypical imaging findings to facilitate timely diagnosis and management.

A Case of Rectal Endometriosis Misdiagnosed as Rectal Malignancy on Three Colonoscopies and Biopsies Sharing a Combined Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis involves the intestine, and its clinical manifestations are nonspecific and lack of etiological manifestations. The diagnosis is difficult, which often leads to misdiagnosis. We report a case of endometriosis which was misdiagnosed as intestinal malignant tumor after colonoscopy and three biopsies.

CASE PRESENTATION

We reported a 42-year-old woman who went to see a doctor because of anal distension. She was examined by three gastrointestinal endoscopists at different levels in different hospitals and underwent biopsy at the same time. Combined with clinical manifestations, imaging examination, endoscopic examination and pathological examination, she was misdiagnosed as intestinal malignant tumor, and partial intestinal resection was performed according to the surgical principle of malignant tumor.

CONCLUSION

Although there are advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy and imaging techniques, intestinal endometriosis is still easy to be misdiagnosed. As our case report shows, after three colonoscopy and biopsy, it is still misdiagnosed as intestinal malignant tumor. Further research is needed to improve the ability of preoperative diagnosis, which deserves the attention of gastroenterologists and obstetricians and gynecologists.

Endometriosis as an Uncommon Cause of Intestinal Obstruction-A Comprehensive Literature Review

The prevalence of intestinal endometriosis has been estimated to be between 3% and 37% of all endometriosis cases. Cases of intestinal occlusion due to endometriosis foci on the small bowel and on the large bowel are even rarer, with a reported prevalence of 0.1-0.7%. The aim of this literature review was to summarize the available published evidence on the diagnosis, characteristics, and management of intestinal occlusion due to endometriosis. The search on PubMed retrieved 295 records, of which 158 were rejected following a review of the title and abstract. After reviewing the full text, 97 studies met the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, and Study (PICOS) criteria and were included in the analysis. The total number of patients with bowel occlusion due to endometriosis included in the studies was 107. The occlusive endometrial foci were localized on the ileum in 38.3% of the cases, on the rectosigmoid in 34.5% of the cases, at the ileocecal junction and the appendix in 14.9% of the cases, and at the rectum in 10.2% of the cases. Only one case reported large bowel obstruction by endometriosis of the hepatic flexure of the colon extending to the transverse colon (0.9%), and in one case the obstruction was caused by an omental giant endometrioid cyst compressing the intestines. We identified six cases of postmenopausal females with acute bowel obstruction due to endometriosis. Malignant degeneration of endometriosis was also identified as a cause of intestinal occlusion. The mechanisms of obstruction include the presence of a mass in the lumen of the intestine or in the wall of the intestine, extrinsic compression, adhesions, or intussusception.

A Rare Case of Complete Perforation of Endometrial Tissue Through the Mucosa of the Sigmoid Colon

Endometriosis is a disease that causes endometrial tissues to proliferate outside of the uterus. The condition is often attributed to estrogen imbalance and can lead to severe inflammation and bleeding, where it is believed that 10% of female patients experience this illness. Endometrial growth can occur in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, stomach, and gastrointestinal tract. Twelve percent of endometriosis cases can be seen in the intestines, with the rectosigmoid colon accounting for 72% of these cases. Patients with intestinal endometriosis may present with moderate symptoms, such as constipation, but they may experience more serious complications as well such as intestinal bleeding. Although the presence of endometrial tissue in the colon is already a rare phenomenon, it is even rarer for endometrial growth to perforate the entire mucosa of the sigmoid colon. A study in 2010 reported that only 21 of such cases have occurred since 1931. The patient in this case report had a gene (MUTYH) mutation that put her at risk for colorectal cancer, and she was ultimately treated with segmental resection of the sigmoid colon. The final pathology of the specimen revealed that the patient's lesion was endometrial growth. In this case report, we present a rare finding of endometrial tissue perforating through a patient's intestinal lumen, which was successfully treated with surgical intervention.

Endometriosis Causing Large Bowel Obstruction: A Case Report

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma in ectopic locations, with extrapelvic sites being less commonly affected. Only a few cases of colonic endometriosis causing acute bowel obstruction have been reported in the literature, in which resection and primary anastomosis were the treatments performed. We present the case of a 40-year-old female who presented with signs and symptoms of acute large bowel obstruction thought to be due to malignancy; however, further evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis. The management plan was an immediate laparotomy with rectosigmoid resection and primary anastomosis.

Acute Large Bowel Obstruction Caused by Endometriosis Requiring Sigmoidectomy

Large bowel obstruction (LBO) accounts for nearly 25% of all bowel occlusions. LBO is managed as a surgical emergency due to its increased risk of bowel perforation. Nearly, 2% to 4% of all surgical admissions are a result of LBO. The most common pathological development of LBO remains colonic malignancy, representing approximately 60% of cases. Other etiology includes abdominal adhesions, diverticulosis, hernia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and in rare cases endometriosis. In this report, the patient is a 36-year-old female with an LBO, originally thought to be a complication of diverticulitis. However, it was confirmed that the obstruction was a result of endometriosis tissue adherence to the colonic wall narrowing the intestinal lumen. The patient presented to the emergency department (ED) with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that started six weeks prior. In this case report, we will discuss the rare complication of endometriosis causing LBO, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management.

Rectal endometriosis presenting as toxic megacolon

Background

The bowel is the most common site of extragenital endometriosis, with involvement of the locoregional sigmoid colon and anterior rectum seen most often. The clinical presentation varies depending on how soon patients seek medical care, thus requiring changes in management strategies. Endometriosis can cause a life-threatening surgical emergency with progressive obliteration of the bowel lumen leading to obstruction and late complications including toxic megacolon and transmural necrosis.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 41-year-old woman presenting with an acute abdomen and complete large bowel obstruction complicated by sepsis and toxic megacolon. The patient underwent emergency total colectomy with ileostomy. Medical history was significant for chronic, vague, and episodic lower abdominal pain self-medicated with herbal tea and laxatives. Pathologic examination demonstrated colonic endometriosis within the bowel wall as the cause of obstruction, ischemia, and transmural necrosis.

Conclusions

Although a rare clinical entity, this case highlights two important points. First, it demonstrates the value of performing proper and complete clinical work up to rule out or in all possible causes of colonic obstruction, including intestinal endometriosis. Second, it suggests a potential benefit of a formalized multidisciplinary approach, including surgery, in the management of medically unresponsive endometriosis. In conclusion, this case shows that endometriosis can cause life-threatening colonic obstruction in women of childbearing age. Prompt early intervention is warranted, particularly when obstruction is only partial and ischemia has not supervened, to conceivably prevent the development of a toxic megacolon requiring colectomy and avoid late complications.

An Unusual Cause of Large Bowel Obstruction in a Patient With Ulcerative Colitis

Endometriosis is a rare cause of large bowel obstruction and has been infrequently reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We present an unusual case of a young woman with ulcerative colitis, who presented with a large bowel obstruction with colonic stricture and peripancreatic mass concerning for malignancy. The evaluation revealed endometriosis, and her large bowel obstruction was successfully managed with leuprolide and colonic stenting.

Acute colonic occlusion over endometriosis: About a case

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of extra pelvic endometriosis, with the rectum and sigmoid colon being the most frequently affected areas. Its diagnosis is still very difficult, especially when it manifests itself as an acute occlusion. We report the case of a patient admitted to the emergency room for an occlusive syndrome on a sigmoid process and who was operated on with colorectal resection and it was the anatomopathological examination that led to the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Association Between Bowel Obstruction or Intussusception and Endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between endometriosis and bowel obstruction or intussusception using a large population database.

METHODS

This was a population-based study using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) from 2005 to 2014. We studied women aged 18 to 55 years without inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between endometriosis and bowel obstruction.

RESULTS

Of the 18 427 520 women who met the criteria for inclusion, 96 539 had experienced bowel obstruction, for an overall prevalence of 52 per 10 000, and 3825 had experienced intussusception, for an overall prevalence of 2 per 10 000. When adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, women with pelvic endometriosis had a consistently higher likelihood of bowel obstruction (odds ratio [OR] 2.6; 95% confidendence interval [CI] 2.3-3.00, P <0.01). In particular, intestinal endometriosis was associated with a 14.6-fold increased risk of bowel obstruction (95% CI 11.4-18.8, P <0.01), while rectovaginal endometriosis was associated with a 2.00-fold increased risk (95% CI 1.5-2.6, P <0.01). Pelvic endometriosis was significantly associated with adhesive bowel obstruction (adjusted OR: 3.2; 95% CI 2.6-3.9) and non-adhesive bowel obstruction (adjusted OR 2.4; 95% CI 2.0-2.8). The rates of endometriosis among women with or without intussusception were comparable.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic endometriosis, in particular rectovaginal and intestinal endometriosis is strongly associated with bowel obstruction, independent of the presence of intra-abdominal adhesions. We did not find any association between pelvic endometriosis and intussusception.

Acute abdominal pain in non-pregnant endometriotic patients: not just dysmenorrhoea. A systematic review

Endometriosis, defined as the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, presents mainly with pelvic pain and infertility. Acute abdominal pain in non-pregnant patients with endometriosis might be minimised as a typical feature of the disease, while endometriosis is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of the current literature of cases of acute abdomen/acute abdominal pain in non-pregnant endometriotic patients. We performed a PubMed/MEDLINE search of studies published from January 1990 to December 2018, selecting English language reports and series of non-pregnant patients with acute abdomen and histological confirmation of endometriosis. The studies were revised by two independent authors. Data were abstracted and compiled for analysis. Fifty articles reporting 62 patients were identified. The complications were classified according to anatomical sites in bowel, urinary tract, and genital organs emergencies. Rarely was the first diagnostic hypothesis endometriosis, misdiagnosis was frequent. The time frame from symptoms onset to management was often long. This is the first systematic review evaluating acute abdomen/acute abdominal pain in non-pregnant endometriotic patients. These conditions are rare but possibly life-threating and require prompt diagnosis and emergent medical or surgical treatment.

Endoscopic Appearance and Management of Recto-Sigmoid Endometriosis: Case Report

Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis can involve any part of the bowel but most commonly affects the recto-sigmoid part of the bowel. This case shows the endoscopic views of bowel endometriosis and also elaborates on how to approach and manage similar cases of bowel endometriosis. Patients with bowel endometriosis are better managed and treated with a multidisciplinary team including gastroenterologist, gynecologist and colorectal surgeon.

Small Bowel Lesions Mimicking Crohn's Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Not all injuries of the terminal ileum are Crohn's disease. It is the purpose of this review to consider the differential diagnosis of other acute and chronic ileal lesions.

RECENT FINDINGS

The recognition of a granulomatous disease of the terminal ileum, distinct from tuberculosis, dates back over 85 years and perhaps much farther, but over the past decades, many other clinical pathologic entities have been described that are neither tuberculosis nor Crohn's eponymous regional enteritis. In recent years, the catalog of lesions mimicking Crohn's disease of the small bowel and proposals for differential diagnosis and treatment have expanded to include newly reported appendiceal pathology, primary cancers and lymphomas of the intestine, unexpected metastases from distant organs, unusual infections, vasculitides and other ischemic conditions, Behçet's disease, endometriosis, and drug reactions. A diagnosis of Crohn's disease should not be a reflex action in the face of small bowel structural or inflammatory lesions without consideration of pathology in adjacent organs, primary and metastatic lesions of the small intestine, infections, vascular diseases, infiltrative diseases, drug injury, or other "idiopathic" conditions.