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Case Reports
. 2019 Jul 2;5(5):384-386.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.06.025. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Cutaneous endometriosis

Liza Raffi  1 , Raagini Suresh  2 , Timothy H McCalmont  2   3 , Amanda R Twigg  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cutaneous endometriosis

Liza Raffi et al. Int J Womens Dermatol. .

Abstract

Cutaneous endometriosis is a disorder that primarily affects women of reproductive age. The disorder is most commonly associated with cyclical pain during menses, but it can be difficult to diagnose in the absence of these symptoms and requires biopsy testing for a definitive diagnosis. We report on a case of a 41-year-old patient undergoing hormonal therapy for infertility who presented with a painful firm subcutaneous nodule in the umbilicus. She was ultimately diagnosed with cutaneous endometriosis and underwent surgical excision. In this report, we discuss the differential diagnosis and comment on treatment options, including surgical excision with wide margins or treatment with hormonal agents, such as danazol or leuprolide. Finally, we discuss whether patients with cutaneous endometriosis should receive an additional evaluation for pelvic endometriosis.

Keywords: Cutaneous endometriosis; endometriosis; hormone therapy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Endometrial glands surrounded by scant hypercellular stroma (right), consistent with a diagnosis of endometriosis. The remainder of the tissue is fibrotic and represents a chronic reactive change induced by the adjacent cycling ectopic tissue.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Endometrial gland (left) with plump stromal cells and extravasated erythrocytes prominently flanking the gland. Hemorrhagic stroma in the skin evokes secondary fibrosis, which explains the prominent hemorrhagic scarring to the right of the frame.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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