| Cutaneous endometriosis | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Urology, dermatology  |
Cutaneous endometriosis is characterized by the appearance of papules at the umbilicus or in lower abdominal scars after gynecologic surgery in middle-aged women.[1]: 628 The size averages to 2 cm in diameter. Its colour ranges from blue to violet, brown or skin-coloured.[2]
Rarely, endometriosis may present inside the muscles of the abdominal wall instead of the skin after cesarean section.[3]
The traditional manifestation of cutaneous endometriosis is a hard nodule or papule with an average diameter of 2 cm. If a patient presents with a nodule at the umbilicus and exhibits symptoms like discomfort, itching, bleeding, or discharge, it is recommended to consider umbilical endometriosis.[4] Localized indications of inflammation, like erythema, could be present in the impacted regions.[2]
There are two types of cutaneous endometriosis: primary and secondary. Primary cutaneous endometriosis is known to develop spontaneously, yet its exact cause is unknown.[4] It is believed that treatments related to abdominal or pelvic surgery that result in the implantation of endometrial tissue into the skin are the cause of secondary cutaneous endometriosis.[2]
A biopsy of the lesion and subsequent histological analysis can be used to confirm the diagnosis.[4]
For cutaneous endometriosis, there are two possible treatment modalities: hormone therapy and surgery. Oral contraceptives, danazol, and gonadotropin-releasing hormonal agonists are examples of hormonal therapy.[4]