Intestinal endometriosis: Diagnostic ambiguities and surgical outcomes

Figure 1 Magnetic resonance imaging, T2 weighted sagittal image. A mass-like lesion of about 2 cm in diameter on the rectosigmoid colon junction appears to grow from the outside to the inside of colonic wall (arrow).

Figure 2 Computed tomography scans. A: Upper rectal mass (arrow) without luminal obstruction and submucosal tumor diagnosed preoperatively; B: Colonic wall thickness (arrow) and infiltration and rectosigmoid colon cancer diagnosed preoperatively.

Figure 3 Colonoscopic findings. A: Severe luminal obstruction with extrinsic compression and mucosal change. Biopsy revealed endometriosis in the rectum; B: Extrinsic compression without mucosal change by a mass located at the submucosal layer.

Figure 4 Pathologic and histologic findings. A: Gross specimen sections showing endometriotic nodules infiltrating from the outer layers; B: Endometrial gland (arrow) in the submucosal layer, infiltrating to the muscularis mucosa (hematoxylin and eosin stain); C: Immunohistochemical examination for endometrial gland expressing ER; D: Immunohistochemical examination for the stroma expressing CD10.