Histological confirmation of endometriosis in a 9-year-old girl suffering from unexplained cyclic pelvic pain since her eighth year of life.
OBJECTIVE
Endometriosis is considered an estrogen-dependent disease of women in their reproductive age and characterized by the occurrence of stromal cells and endometrial-like glands outside the uterine cavity.


METHODS
A report of a 9-year-old premenarcheal girl who was transferred to the Endometriosis Research Center Berlin-Brandenburg Level III (Academic Teaching Hospital) because of cyclic pelvic pain since her 8th year of life.


METHODS
History, examination, abdominal ultrasound, laboratory tests, laparoscopic resection of visible lesions. Paraffin-embedded histology (HE staining) and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Endometriosis, defined as the presence of stromal tissue and epithelial glands, was confirmed both by HE staining and immunohistochemistry (CD10), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Young pre- or perimenarcheal girls with chronic/cyclic pelvic pain can have endometriosis, and thus the possibility of endometriosis should be included in the differential diagnosis.
Ebert
Andreas D
AD
German Endometriosis Research Center Berlin Level III, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vivantes Campus Humboldt, Berlin, Germany. andreas.ebert@vivantes.de
Fuhr
Norbert
N
David
Matthias
M
Schneppel
Lorena
L
Papadopoulos
Thomas
T
D002648:Child; D004312:Douglas' Pouch; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases