Intestinal Endometriosis

Abstract

The diagnosis of endometriosis had been confirmed some years previously and been treated by ovarian cystectomy and laparoscopic pelvic surgery. In 1987, to investigate chronic lower abdominal pain and constipation, flexible sigmoidoscopy to the splenic flexure revealed dome shaped swellings (Figure 85.1), most obvious in the sigmoid colon, covered with normal mucosa, consistent with endometriomas. A gynecologist supervised a further 5 years of medical treatment until the symptoms were sufficiently disabling to require surgery. Repeat endoscopy showed no extension of the colon lesions, which did not show on a barium enema examination.