Endometriosis of the Appendix: The Experience of General Surgeons in a Large Teaching Hospital. Issue 1 (January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ward, Stephen T.; Scarpinata, Rosaria; Hejmadi, Rahul K.; Ismail, Tariq
• Is Part Of: Journal of endometriosis and pelvic pain disorders. Volume 5:Issue 1(2013)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2013-01
• Subjects: Appendix -- Differential diagnosis -- Endometriosis -- General surgery; Endometriosis -- Periodicals; Pelvic pain -- Periodicals; 618.1
• DOI: 10.5301/JE.2013.11017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2284-0265

Abstract

Endometriosis presents frequently to the general surgeon both electively and as an emergency. One reason for this is that the symptoms from endometriosis may mimic appendicitis. Endometriosis is not closely associated with appendicitis but numerous case reports of appendiceal endometriosis exist in the literature. We reviewed all cases of appendiceal endometriosis from a large UK teaching hospital over a ten-year period to determine how this rare entity may present. Seven cases were identified and the case notes retrieved. Based on histology findings, two patients were found to have appendiceal endometriosis in association with acute appendicitis. In three cases, endometrial deposits were found in their appendix with evidence of previous endometriosis-associated inflammation. The finding of appendiceal endometriosis was incidental in a further two cases. Evidence for an association between endometriosis and appendicitis and the evidence for appendicectomy at the time of laparoscopic-diagnosis of endometriosis is discussed.