Extragenital endometriosis: diagnostic difficulties, modern treatment policy

Yarmolinskaya M.I., Rusina E.I., Semenova V.O., Beganova A.K.

1) D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductology, Saint Petersburg, Russia; 2) I.I. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The incidence of extragenital endometriosis (EE) is 6–8% of all forms of endometriosis; however, there has been an increase in the prevalence of the disease in recent years. EE is characterized by the growth of tissue similar in morphological structure and function to the endometrium in the organs and tissues that are not related to the reproductive system. A wide range of non-specific clinical manifestations and the ensuing difficulties in diagnosing EE at various sites lead to its delayed diagnosis and to the absence of pathogenetically based therapy.
The authors reviewed literature on the diagnosis and treatment of EE and analyzed their own experience on this topic. They described clinical cases, by providing the features of female patients’ medical histories, diagnosis, surgical and medical treatments for endometriosis of the intestine, catamenial pneumothorax, urinary system, and umbilicus.
Conclusion: The diagnosis and treatment of extragenital forms of endometriosis requires an interdisciplinary approach, by attracting gynecologists, general and thoracic surgeons, urologists, and gastroenterologists, to decide on the personalized strategies for patient management and on the mandatory prescription of long-term pathogenetically based anti-relapse therapy.

Keywords

extragenital endometriosis
catamenial pneumothorax
endometriosis of the gastrointestinal tract
urinary system
umbilicus
and nervous system

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Received 08.08.2022

Accepted 10.08.2022

About the Authors

Maria I. Yarmolinskaya, Professor of Russian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Gynecology and Endocrinology, Head of the Center “Diagnostics and treatment of endometriosis”, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology; Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, m.yarmolinskaya@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6551-4147,
Mendeleevskaya liniya, 3, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation.
Elena I. Rusina, Dr. Med. Sci., Leading Researcher at the Department of Gynecology and Endocrinology, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, pismo_rusina@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8744-678X, Mendeleevskaya liniya, 3, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation.
Valeriia O. Semenova, resident physician, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, pyankova.valeriia@rambler.ru
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9101-1981, Mendeleevskaya liniya, 3, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation.
Alexandra K. Beganova, Junior Researcher, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, alexandra.beganova@yandex.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4705-7990, Mendeleevskaya liniya, 3, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation.
Corresponding author: Valeriia O. Semenova, pyankova.valeriia@rambler.ru

Authors' contributions: Yarmolinskaya M.I. – the concept and design of the investigation; editing; Yarmolinskaya M.I., Rusina E.I., Semenova V.O., Beganova A.K. – material collection and processing; Yarmolinskaya M.I., Semenova V.O., Beganova A.K. – writing the text.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there are no manifest and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.
Funding: The review has been prepared within research and development (R&D) No. 1021062812154-3-3.2.2 “Strategy for promoting the health of women with gynecological and endocrine diseases in different age periods: a pathogenetic rationale for drug rehabilitation and the development of new areas of organ-sparing surgical interventions”.
Patient Consent for Publication: All patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data.
For citation: Yarmolinskaya M.I., Rusina E.I., Semenova V.O., Beganova A.K.
Extragenital endometriosis: diagnostic difficulties, modern treatment policy.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2022; 8: 154-162 (in Russian)
http://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2022.8.154-162

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