Umbilical endometriosis: a radical excision with laparoscopic assistance.
BACKGROUND
Umbilical endometriosis represents the most common site of cutaneous endometriosis. Although its treatment is typically surgical, in literature the approach used is variable and extends from diathermocoagulation to omphalectomy. Such superficial treatments for umbilical endometriosis can predispose the patient to a relapse of the disease. We here present seven cases of umbilical endometriosis treated with radical surgery with a laparoscopically-assisted approach, with a complete and long-term disease-free follow-up.


METHODS
Seven cases of umbilical endometriosis, four of which relapsing from a prior superficial treatment, were treated radically with a laparoscopically-assisted approach, with a long-term disease-free follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Although a medical treatment can be considered, the treatment of choice in these patients should be that of excisional surgery so as to avoid lesion relapse and the risk of oncogenic transformation. Despite umbilical endometriosis is a rare finding, this relatively small case series treated by laparoscopically-assisted omphalectomy shows a complete resolution of the lesion and symptoms along with good aesthetic results at a long-term follow-up.
Fedele
Luigi
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan, Fondazione Policlinico Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Istituto Luigi Mangiagalli, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. luigi.fedele@unimi.it
Frontino
Giada
G
Bianchi
Stefano
S
Borruto
Franco
F
Ciappina
Nevio
N
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000601:surgery*