A case of sigmoid endometriosis difficult to differentiate from colon cancer

Extrapelvic endometriosis refers to endometriotic implants located elsewhere in the body including the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system, pulmonary system, CNS, skin and striated muscle [1, 2]. The exact prevalence of extrapelvic endometriosis is unknown. The median age at the time of diagnosis is 34 to 40 years. Periodic hematochezia during the menses is a sign usually associated with intestinal endometriosis [3]. Yet, this catamenial character of bleeding and all other accompanying symptoms, is very often absent, making the clinical history rather misleading [4]. Moreover, the differential diagnosis of colonic endometriosis from other diseases of the colon is rather difficult due to the lack of pathognomonic symptoms and the poor diagnostic yield of colonoscopy and colonic biopsies.

In this report we present the case of a young woman with intestinal endometriosis, in which the initial diagnostic workup suggested colon cancer.

A 35-year-old woman was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology because of rectal bleeding and bouts of abdominal pain. Nine months before admission the patient began to have rectal bleeding that was related, at first, to the menstrual cycles. She also reported episodes of severe lower abdominal pain that was irrelevant to her menses and were accompanied by abdominal distention and constipation, especially during the last two months. Three weeks before admission she started to have almost daily hematochezia and small-caliber stools.

The patient had her menarche at the age of 13 years. Thereafter she had 27-day to 28-day menstrual cycles and menstrual periods lasting 6 to 7 days with normal blood loss. She had two normal labors at the age of 22 and 25. From her past medical history she reported tonsillectomy at the age of 11 and appendicectomy at the age of 18. She also reported cramping lower abdominal pain accompanying menstruation during the last three years. Her father suffered from hypertension. Her mother was healthy without reporting previous history of endometriosis or myomata uteri. Her brother was also healthy.

Physical examination revealed mild lower abdominal tenderness. No masses were palpated. The bowel sounds were slightly increased. Rectal examination showed bright red blood, but no distinct mass. On the gynecological examination her vulva, vagina and cervix appeared to be normal. Her uterus had normal size and was anteverted. The laboratory work-up revealed a mild anemia (Hb: 11.3 gr/dL, Hct: 34.5%, MCV: 91.7 fL) with an increased white blood cell count (12000/μL: neut: 80.8%, lymph: 12.1%, mono: 4.6%) and ESR: 36 mm. Coagulation parameters, serum urea, creatinine, electrolytes, and liver function tests, were all within normal range.

Colonoscopy revealed an extensive polypoid lesion of the mucosa, on the rectosigmoid junction, along with erythema, oedema, and ulcerations that resulted in stenosis of the lumen. The endoscope could not be introduced beyond the lesion. The histology of the above lesion demonstrated a mild dilation of crypts without goblet cell depletion. The lamina propria was edematous with dilated capillaries and inflammatory infiltrates of lymphocytes and plasma cells. A barium enema (figure 1), on the following day, showed stenosis of the rectosigmoid region due to both a filling defect and an extrinsic bowel compression. The rest of the colon was normal. An abdominal CT scan, obtained two days later, revealed an eccentric wall thickening of the sigmoid and confirmed the filling defect. Moreover, it showed ovarian cysts (Figures 2,3).

Because of high suspicion of colon cancer a new colonoscopy was performed, in the 20^th day of the menstrual cycle, in order to obtain more biopsy specimens. This time, colonic histology showed stroma and glands of endometrium suggestive of endometriosis (Figure 4).

Serum level of CA-125, that was measured in the 5^th day of her menstrual cycle, was 210 IU/ml (normal< 35 IU/ml), while CEA was 1.7 ng/ml (normal<5) and CA 19-9 was 6.1 IU/ml (normal<37). A pelvic ultrasound was performed and showed an anteverted homogeneous uterous. The right ovary had normal size with a small chocolate cyst (3 × 3.5 cm), while the left ovary had also normal size, but a larger chocolate cyst (4 × 4 cm). A laparoscopy performed a week later revealed stage IV endometriosis (American Fertility Society classification). The uterus was anteverted. Both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes were involved. The right ovary was found with a small chocolate cyst and the left ovary with a larger chocolate cyst (4 × 5 cm). The cul-de-sac had extensive adhesions. An endometriotic implant was found on the sigmoid colon. All endometriotic lesions and adhesions were removed. The patient started treatment with a GnRH agonist (leuproreline acetate, 3.75 mg/month IM).

Five months later a new colonoscopy was performed that showed only mild oedema of the sigmoid mucosa with disappearance of the stenotic lesion and easy introduction of the instrument to the caecum. The rest of the large bowel appeared to be normal. Serum level of CA-125 (7^th day of menstrual cycle) was now normal (28 IU/ml). The patient was free of symptoms.

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of extrapelvic endometriosis, affecting 5–15% of women with pelvic endometriosis [1, 2]. Among women with intestinal endometriosis, rectum and sigmoid colon are the most common involved areas (75–90%). Other parts of the bowel commonly affected are the distal ileum (2–16%), and appendix (3–18%) [3]. Only the serosa and the muscularis propria are usually involved, while the mucosa is very rarely affected [4].

Intestinal endometriosis may present with rectal bleeding, bowel obstruction and rarely with perforation or malignant transformation [5, 6]. Symptoms can be cyclical in about 40% of patients, can vary depending on the site and include crampy abdominal pain, distention, diarrhea, constipation, tenesmus and hematochezia [1]. The classic triad of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and infertility, as a result of concomitant pelvic disease, may also exist. We should, however notice, that the cyclical character of symptoms does not exclusively appear in endometriosis. It is well established that clinical manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome may aggravate during the menses [7, 8].

The clinical, radiological and endoscopic picture may be confused with neoplasms, ischemic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, post radiation colitis, diverticular disease and infection. Although endoscopic diagnosis of colonic endometriosis has been reported [9] usually the endoscopic appearance, even if there is mucosal involvement, is not diagnostic. Biopsies obtained endoscopically usually yield insufficient tissue for a definite pathologic diagnosis [10]. Moreover, endometriotic deposits can induce secondary mucosal changes, which mimic findings of other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis, or even a neoplasm [11, 12]. The CT scan or barium enema usually demonstrate an extrinsic bowel compression, stenosis or filling defect. MRI seems to be the most sensitive imaging technique for intestinal endometriosis [13]. Yet, the gold standard for the diagnosis is laparoscopy or laparotomy.

Treatment options include surgery or hormonal manipulations, depending on patient's age and desire to maintain fertility and also on the severity and complications of the disease [14]. Recently, laparoscopic treatment of colorectal endometriosis, even in advanced stages, has been proven feasible and effective in nearly all patients [15]. The medications used in the treatment of endometriosis are danazol, high dose progestins and GnRH agonists with almost equivalent efficacy [16]. The choice of which to use is based on side effects and costs. Danazol and GnRH agonists are of equivalent cost, but GnRH agonists are usually better tolerated. In our case, although high dose progestins could have been used, after discussion with the patient she chose to receive GnRH agonists.

Our patient represents a case of symptomatic gastrointestinal endometriosis with mucosal involvement, without a previous history of pelvic endometriosis. The symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation and hematochezia, the presence of anemia in combination with the radiologic and endoscopic findings were suggestive of a neoplasm. On the other hand the patient's long history of dysmenorrhea, the normal levels of CEA and CA19-9, and the absence of neoplastic infiltration in all biopsy specimens were against the diagnosis of colon cancer. Furthermore, the ovarian chocolate cysts showed by the pelvic ultrasound and the histologic evidence, obtained from the second colonoscopy, directed us towards the diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis that was finally confirmed during the laparoscopy. Moreover, this patient had elevated serum levels of CA-125, which has been established as a useful marker for determining the severity of endometriosis [17, 18]. The colonic mucosal involvement in this case could be explained by the invasion of endometrial cells through the bowel wall. Lymphatic or vascular metastasis could explain rare cases of endometriosis located in pleura, umbilicus, muscle, brain, vagina, cervix and retroperitoneal space [1, 2].

In conclusion, intestinal endometriosis is often a diagnostic challenge mimicking a broad spectrum of diseases and should be considered in any young woman with symptoms from the lower gastrointestinal tract.