Endometrial tumour as a cause of mechanical bowel obstruction – a case report

Endometriosis is a disease that involves the presence of physiologically active uterine tissue beyond the uterus. It is classified as a non-malignant disease that typically develops within the reproductive system: in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterine ligaments. These changes tend to occur also beyond the reproductive structures, usually within the digestive system, where the most common sites are the peritoneum, postsurgical scars or umbilicus. Moreover, the disease can occur in the intestine, usually in the large bowel, and particularly in the caecum. The literature reports that endometriosis may affect even 10% of women of child-bearing age. The authors present a case of a patient admitted to the surgical ward due to mechanical bowel obstruction. Intraoperatively, an endophytic tumour, completely occluding the ileum, was found. Due to its location, i.e. approximately 15 cm from the Bauhin’s valve, it was resected together with the ascending colon and the right half of the transverse colon. Based on the morphology of the lesion and a positive family history, cancer was thought to be the most probable cause of the patient’s symptoms. The result of the histopathological examination did not confirm this, however. The specimen showed endometriosis. On the day of surgery, the patient was administered antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition and essential fluid supplementation. The wound healed normally, and abdominal pain did not return as diet was being extended. The patient was discharged on the 6th day after the operation with recommended follow-up in a surgical clinic.