title: Endometriosis of the terminal ileum: a diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue consisting of glands and/or stroma located outside the uterus. Involvement of the terminal ileum is extremely rare. Preoperative distinction of ileal endometriosis from other diseases of the ileocecal region is difficult in terms of clinical presentation, symptomatology, radiological appearance, and surgical and pathological findings. We report a case initially diagnosed as Crohn's disease due to a longstanding diarrhea with subsequent intestinal obstruction, but finally diagnosed as ileal endometriosis by histopathological evaluation after resection of the involved segment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Third General Surgery Clinic, Tepecik Teaching and Research Hospital, Gaziler Cad. Number: 468, Tepecik Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Yenisehir, 35110 Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Emel Ebru
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bayol
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olmez
authors.forename: Saime
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unluoglu
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozturk