Endometriosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Endometriosis, including details on causes, treatment, symptoms, infertility.

Cytomorphological spectrum in scar endometriosis: a study of eight cases.

Pathan SK, Kapila K, Haji BE, Mallik MK, Al-Ansary TA, George SS, Das DK, Francis IM

Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait University, Kuwait.

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis due to ectopic endometrial tissue that responds to hormonal stimulation and is extremely rare in a surgical scar appearing in 0.1% of women who have undergone Caesarean section. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) can be a valuable diagnostic aid in the evaluation of these subcutaneous abdominal masses. METHODS: We present the cytomorphological spectrum in eight cases of abdominal wall endometriosis diagnosed by FNAC over a 6-year period (June 1998-June 2004) in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital (Kuwait). The patients ranged from 27 to 56 years of age. Seven had a prior Caesarean section and one had a hysterectomy for fibroid. They presented 3-8 years later with nodules in/near the abdominal scar. Five cases presented with a painful nodule, fluctuant with the menstrual cycle. RESULTS: Cytological findings comprised epithelial clusters and fusiform stromal cells with numerous haemosiderin-laden macrophages. Mild to moderate epithelial atypia was observed in three cases. A diagnosis of endometriosis was rendered in all the eight cases and tissue was available in four cases. CONCLUSIONS: Endometriotic nodules need to be differentiated from other benign/malignant masses and evaluated for possible malignant transformation. FNAC provides a safe and effective tool for diagnosis thereby obviating the need for other procedures.

Published 24 March 2005 in Cytopathology, 16(2): 94-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Endometriosis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.