Abdominal wall endometriomas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment, and factors of recurrence of abdominal wall endometriomas (AWE).


METHODS
Sixty-four cases of AWE diagnosed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from 1983 to 2003 were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
There was an AWE incidence of 0.044% among the parturients undergoing cesarean section at PUMCH, of whom 87.5% had the typical complaint of an enlarging mass and pain during menstruation. Among these women, 62 underwent low abdominal surgery for endometrioma (2 for primary umbilicus endometrioma); 2 women with small endometriomas opted for a temporary medical solution and had relief after menopause. The latent period of AWE positively correlated to the women's age at onset of symptoms (P<0.001). Of the 62 women who underwent local excision, 19 had an unsatisfactory experience with medical management. There were 5 recurrences and 1 evolution to malignancy during a mean follow-up of 83.7 months. Recurrence was closely related to the size and depth of lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of its typical clinical manifestations, abdominal wall endometriomas could be diagnosed before pregnancy. Surgical excision is the only effective treatment and wide local excision with clear margins is the key point to prevent recurrence.
Zhao
Xueying
X
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China. selinaxyzhao@yahoo.com
Lang
Jinghe
J
Leng
Jinhua
J
Liu
Zhufeng
Z
Sun
Dawei
D
Zhu
Lan
L
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008499:Medical Records; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies