Diagnosis, surgical treatment and postoperative outcomes of hepatic endometriosis: A systematic review

Abstract

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue and stroma in extra-uterine locations. Hepatic endometriosis (HE) is one of the rarest forms of extrapelvic endometriosis. We aimed to summarize the existing evidence on HE with special consideration to natural history, diagnosis and surgical treatment. Three electronic databases were systematically searched for articles published up to March 2019. All appropriate observational studies and case reports addressing cases of women with HE were considered eligible for inclusion. A total of 27 studies which comprised 32 patients with HE were included. Mean age of patients was 39.7 years. Ten (62.5%) were nulliparous and 24 (75%) were women of reproductive age. Eleven patients (36.7%) had a history of pelvic endometriosis of various sites. Abdominal pain was the primary symptom in 28 patients (87.5%). Preoperative diagnosis of endometriosis was available for 5 patients and 6 underwent a preoperative diagnostic procedure. Cyst resection, minor and major liver resections were performed in 14/31, 9/31 and 8/31 patients, respectively. Preoperative diagnosis of HE is challenging due to variable radiologic features and clinical symptomatology. Nonetheless, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a liver mass especially in premenopausal women with a history of endometriosis. The type of resection of the endometriotic lesion is based on the extent and the location of the disease and presented with favourable outcomes concerning morbidity, symptom relief and recurrence.

Keywords: Cyst; Endometriosis; Hepatic endometriosis; Liver; Liver endometriosis.