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| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 35
| Issue : 2 | Page : 82-84 |
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Rectosigmoid endometriosis mimicking a carcinoma: Report of an unusual colonoscopic appearance
Liang-Tsai Wang1, Chang-Chieh Wu2, Cheng-Wen Hsiao2, Yi-Jen Peng3, Shu-Wen Jao2
1 Department of Surgery, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital Penghu Branch, Penghu, Taiwan, Republic of China
2 Department of Surgery, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China
3 Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| Date of Submission | 14-Aug-2014 |
| Date of Decision | 18-Dec-2014 |
| Date of Acceptance | 12-Feb-2015 |
| Date of Web Publication | 29-Apr-2015 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Shu-Wen Jao
No. 325, Section 2, Cheng-Gung Road, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan
Republic of China
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1011-4564.156023
Pelvic endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecological disorders, affecting 5-10% of menstruating women. Intestinal involvement occurs in 3-37% of patients and usually affects the rectosigmoid colon. Colonic endometrial lesions commonly affect only the serosa, and the majority of patients are asymptomatic. Besides, only the serosa and the muscularis propria are usually involved, while the mucosa is very rarely affected. Here we present a rare case of rectosigmoid endometriosis with mucosal invasion which caused abdominal pain, recurrent bloody feces, and mimicked carcinoma of the rectosigmoid on endoscopy. Biopsy proved the diagnosis of endometriosis. The patient underwent anterior resection due to recurrent symptoms and recovered uneventfully. This case demonstrates the propensity of intestinal endometrosis to mimic colon cancer on endoscopic examination. Tissue should be obtained from these patients for histologic study before definitive therapy is decided. Keywords: Colon cancer, pelvic endometriosis, intestinal bleeding, endoscopy
How to cite this article:
Wang LT, Wu CC, Hsiao CW, Peng YJ, Jao SW. Rectosigmoid endometriosis mimicking a carcinoma: Report of an unusual colonoscopic appearance. J Med Sci 2015;35:82-4 |
How to cite this URL:
Wang LT, Wu CC, Hsiao CW, Peng YJ, Jao SW. Rectosigmoid endometriosis mimicking a carcinoma: Report of an unusual colonoscopic appearance. J Med Sci [serial online] 2015 [cited 2023 May 31];35:82-4. Available from: https://www.jmedscindmc.com/text.asp?2015/35/2/82/156023 |
| Introduction | |  |
The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of extrapelvic endometriosis. [1] Among women with intestinal endometriosis, rectum and sigmoid colon are the most common involved areas (7-90%). Other parts of the bowel commonly affected are the distal ileum (2-16%), and appendix (3-18%). [2] Besides, only the serosa and the muscularis propria are usually involved, while the mucosa is very rarely affected. [3] Reported here is a case of rectosigmoid endometriosis with symptoms of lower abdominal pain and recurrent bloody defecation, in which the initial diagnostic workups suggested colon cancer. Clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, therapeutic plan were discussed and relative literature was also reviewed.
| Case Report | | |
A 46-year-old woman who had had a previous hysterectomy for adenomyosis was sent to our emergency department due to recurrent bloody defecation and bouts of lower abdominal pain. She had suffered with intermittent bloody defecation and abdominal distention, particularly at the time of menstruation, for the preceding 6 months. Intermittent abdominal distension and bloody stool was noted in later period, especially during menstruation. She ever visited local clinic for help but in vein. However, she suddenly developed intractable abdominal cramping and was admitted to our ward via the emergency department. Urgent colonoscopy was performed immediately, identifying a fungating, polypoid tumor about 15 cm above the anal verge with partial intestinal obstruction [Figure 1]a. The endoscope could not be introduced beyond the lesion due to the narrowing of the lumen. The biopsy of the tumor revealed endometriosis. | Figure 1. (a) Colonoscopy showed a fungating, polypoid tumor (arrow) 15 cm above the anal verge that was suspicious of a colonic neoplasm with colonic obstruction. (b) The double-contrast barium enema revealed a segmental filling defect about 5 cm in length with mucosal destruction and stenosis (arrow) over the rectosigmoid colon
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A double-contrast barium enema was arranged on the following day, revealed a segmental filling defect about 5 cm in length with mucosal destruction and stenosis over the rectosigmoid colon [Figure 1]b. An abdominal computer tomography (CT) scan, obtained 1-day later, showed an eccentric wall thickening of the rectosigmoid colon and confirmed the filling defect. Due to the persistent symptoms of cramping and bloody defecation, explore laparotomy with anterior resection was arranged for the patient.
At surgery, a fungating, polypoid tumor about 5 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm was noted within the rectosigmoid colon. Severe pelvic adhesion between bilateral ovaries and rectum with partial obliteration of cul-de-sac was also noted. The exploratory laparotomy concluded with anterior resection, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The pathology proved endometriosis with involvement to whole layer of colon as well as pericolic fatty tissue and associated with hemorrhage and inflammation [Figure 2]. The patient resumed oral intake without discomfort about 3 days postoperatively. | Figure 2. The pathology revealed endometriosis with involvement to whole layer of colon. (a and b) Endometrial glands with stromal cells (arrows) entrapped in the colonic mucosa (heads) and muscularis propria (a) H and E, ×40; (b) ×200). (c) The nuclei of endometrial glands with stromal cells express progesterone receptor (arrows), but not in colon epithelia (Immunohistochemical stain, ×200). (d) The nuclei of colon epithelia express CDX2 protein (heads), but not in endometriosis (Immunohistochemical stain, ×200)
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| Discussion | | |
A cyclic profile of hematochezia that correlates with menstruation supports a diagnosis of endometriosis. However, this catamenial character of bleeding and all other accompanying symptoms is very often absent or pathognomonic, making the clinical history rather misleading. [3]
The radiological and endoscopic picture may be confused with neoplasms, ischemic colitis, infectious colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Although endoscopic diagnosis of colonic endometriosis has been reported, usually the endoscopic appearance, even if there is mucosal involvement, is not diagnostic. [4] The CT scan or barium enema usually demonstrates an extrinsic bowel compression, stenosis or filling defect. MRI seems to be the most sensitive imaging technique for intestinal endometriosis. [5] However, the gold standard for the diagnosis is laparoscopy or laparotomy.
Treatment alternatives include surgery or hormonal therapy, depending on patient's age and desire to maintain fertility and also on the severity and complications of the disease. [6] Recently, laparoscopic treatment of colorectal endometriosis, even in advanced stages, has been proven feasible and effective in nearly all patients. [7] The medications used in the treatment of endometriosis are danazol, high dose progestins and GnRH agonists with almost equivalent efficacy. [8]
In the presently reported case, rectosigmoid cancer was highly suspected with unusual fungating, polypoid appearance by endoscopy and mucosal destruction in barium enema. Surprisingly, the pathologic evidence led to the diagnosis of endometriosis of bilateral ovary with rectosigmoid invasion. The patient received anterior resection of the involved colon and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy due to the recurrent symptoms. The patient then could tolerate oral intake without discomfort 3 days later, and then discharged uneventfully.
| Conclusion | | |
Intestinal endometriosis with a polypoid appearance is rare in colonoscopy. It is often a diagnostic challenge mimicking a broad spectrum of diseases and should be considered in any young woman with symptoms from the lower gastrointestinal tract.
| References | | |
| 1. | Yantiss RK, Clement PB, Young RH. Endometriosis of the intestinal tract: A study of 44 cases of a disease that may cause diverse challenges in clinical and pathologic evaluation. Am J Surg Pathol 2001;25:445-54.  |
| 2. | Miller LS, Barbarevech C, Friedman LS. Less frequent causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1994;23:21-52. |
| 3. | Levitt MD, Hodby KJ, van Merwyk AJ, Glancy RJ. Cyclical rectal bleeding in colorectal endometriosis. Aust N Z J Surg 1989;59:941-3. |
| 4. | Bozdech JM. Endoscopic diagnosis of colonic endometriosis. Gastrointest Endosc 1992;38:568-70. |
| 5. | Brosens J, Timmerman D, Starzinski-Powitz A, Brosens I. Noninvasive diagnosis of endometriosis: The role of imaging and markers. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2003;30:95-114, viii. |
| 6. | Urbach DR, Reedijk M, Richard CS, Lie KI, Ross TM. Bowel resection for intestinal endometriosis. Dis Colon Rectum 1998;41:1158-64. |
| 7. | Jerby BL, Kessler H, Falcone T, Milsom JW. Laparoscopic management of colorectal endometriosis. Surg Endosc 1999;13:1125-8. |
| 8. | Mahutte NG, Arici A. Medical management of endometriosis-associated pain. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2003;30:133-50. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
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