[Endometriosis of the terminal ileum--differential diagnosis of Crohn disease]

Abstract

Ileocecal resection was performed in two female patients with stenosis of the terminal ileum. Histological findings confirmed the clinical diagnosis of Crohn's disease in the first case, although focal intestinal endometriosis was detected. The resection specimens of the other patient exclusively showed lesions of endometriosis extending from the subserosa to the mucosal tissue. Typical lesions of Crohn's disease were totally absent in this case. Although not very frequent, endometriosis is an important differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease in young females.