Spontaneously ruptured endometriomas presenting with symptoms and imaging findings worrisome for carcinomatosis: A case report

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Endometriomas are the most common presenting subtype of endometriosis. Although most endometriomas are asymptomatic, patients can rarely present acutely with spontaneous rupture causing diffuse peritonitis and severe systemic inflammatory response.

Case presentation: Here we describe a case of ruptured endometriomas in a 26-year-old nulligravid female with a history of heavy menses, progressive abdominal distension, and a recent urinary tract infection. The patient presented to the emergency department with upper abdominal pain radiating to her back with associated nausea. Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated diffuse ascites with a large, multilobulated, and multicystic septated mass arising in the right pelvis and extending into the lower abdomen. Findings were concerning for peritoneal carcinomatosis and the patient was admitted for evaluation. She developed progressive signs of sepsis and was emergently brought to the operating room for surgical exploration on hospital day (HD) number two. She was found to have ruptured pelvic cysts arising from both ovaries with diffuse contamination of the abdomen by cyst contents and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) was performed. Final pathology demonstrated benign bilateral endometriomas.

Clinical discussion: Endometrioma rupture is extremely rare and imaging findings may appear to represent disseminated peritoneal malignancy. CT findings demonstrating a pelvic mass with concurrent ascites should raise clinical suspicion for ruptured endometrioma, particularly in younger patients.

Conclusion: Prompt surgical exploration and complete resection of pathologic tissue may be necessary for diagnosis and treatment in some patients with clinical deterioration related to perforated endometriomas. Combined oral contraceptives are recommended in the postoperative period.

Keywords: Abdominal pain; Ascites; Case report; Endometrioma.

Fig. 1

Transverse abdominal CT scan (A-D) shows extensive ascites and a large multiseptated, multicystic mass arising in the right pelvis and extending into the lower abdomen, measuring approximately 16 cm in maximal dimension.

Fig. 2

(A) ER stains positive for endometrial glandular epithelium, (B) CD-10 stains positive for underlying endometrial stroma, but negative for the overlying endometrial epithelium and the underlying ovarian stroma, (C) H&E stains positive for epithelial layer on top, supporting endometrial stroma layer, and native ovarian tissue.