Rectosigmoid endometriosis causing an acute large bowel obstruction: A report of a case and a review of the literature

Abstract

Endometriosis is often seen in gynecology practice and is treated medically. However, intestinal involvement of endometriosis causing acute large bowel obstruction is uncommon and is difficult to differentiate from malignancy before surgery, owing to its similar colonoscopic and radiologic findings. We report a successfully-treated case of a 30-year-old woman in which endometrial infiltration of the large bowel caused acute obstruction, requiring emergency surgery to relieve the symptom and confirm the diagnosis. We present this unusual disease in general surgical practice and also review the literature.