Endometriosis as a cause of ileal obstruction

This paper presents the first analysis of clinical data of a series of cases in which ileal obstruction was caused by endometriosis. The subject is of particular significance because the obstructive involvement of the distal part of the ileum by this highly invasive nonmalignant tissue often has been confused clinically with appendicitis accompanied by ileus, with malignant lesions causing obstruction of the intestine, and with intestinal obstruction caused by the adhesions of pelvic inflammatory disease. The importance of endometriosis as a cause of ileal obstruction has not been sufficiently stressed. The clinical picture of this condition, as revealed by a detailed analysis of the clinical data of sixteen cases, will be presented, as will also (1) certain facts higly pertinent to the differential diagnosis, (2) pathologic lesions and (3) surgical treatment. The term “endometriosis” indicates the existence of endometrial tissue in any extrauterine location.