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Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminate (LPD) is a rare benign disease of unknown etiology of women in reproductive age. A few reported cases of association with endometriosis have been described suggesting a possible origin from submesothelial multipotential cells. We present two cases of LPD associated with endometriosis expressing smooth muscle metaplasia, and some of the nodules with aspects of uterus-like mass. Laparoscopy, gross findings, and the pathological and immunohistochemical study of the surgical specimens were described. Our findings suggest an endometriotic origin for the LPD and indicate that the therapeutic approach might contemplate the surgical reduction of the nodules and endometriosis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer significantly decreases survival rate. Few data on the influence of intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) on survival in endometrial cancer are available. Our aim was to assess the intratumoral LMVD of endometrial carcinomas and to investigate its association with classical pathological factors, lymph node metastasis and survival. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with endometrial carcinoma diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 underwent complete surgical staging and evaluation of intratumoral LMVD and other histologic variables. Lymphatic microvessels were identified by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody against human podoplanin (clone D2-40) and evaluated by counting the number of immunostained lymphatic vessels in 10 hot spot areas at 400x magnification. The LMVD was expressed by the mean number of vessels in these 10 hot spot microscopic fields. We next investigated the association of LMVD with the clinicopathologic findings and prognosis. Results: The mean number of lymphatic vessels counted in all cases ranged between 0 and 4.7. The median value of mean LMVD was 0.5, and defined the cut-off for low and high LMVD. We identified low intratumoral LMVD in 27 (47.4%) patients and high LMVD in 30 (52.6%) patients. High intratumoral LMVD was associated with lesser miometrial and adnaexal infiltration, lesser cervical and peritoneal involvement, and fewer fatal cases. Although there was lower lymph node involvement among cases with high LMVD, the difference did not reach significance. No association was seen between LMVD and FIGO staging, histological type, or vascular invasion. On the other hand, low intratumoral LMVD was associated with poor outcome. Seventy-five percent of deaths occurred in patients with low intratumoral LMVD. Conclusion: Our results show association of high intratumoral LMVD with features related to more localized disease and better outcome. We discuss the role of lymphangiogenesis as an early event in the endometrial carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings relative to surgical presence of deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).Methods: This prospective study included 92 women with clinical suspicion of DIE. The MR images were compared with laparoscopy and pathology findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of MRI for diagnosis of DIE were assessed.Results: DIE was confirmed at histopathology in 77 of the 92 patients (83.7%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of MRI to diagnose DIE at each of the specific sites evaluated were as follows: retrocervical space (89.4%, 92.3%, 96.7%, 77.4%, 90.2%); rectosigmoid (86.0%, 92.9%, 93.5%, 84.8%, 89.1%); bladder (23.1%, 100%, 100%, 88.8%, 89.1%); ureters (50.0%, 100%, 95.5%, 95.7%); and vagina (72.7%, 100%, 100%, 96.4%, 96.7%).Conclusion: MRI demonstrates high accuracy in diagnosing DIE in the retrocervical region, rectosigmoid, bladder, ureters, and vagina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Study Objective: To estimate the relationship between the depth of lesions of rectal endometriosis and the percentage of the circumference of the bowel segment affected by the disease. Design: A prospective pathologic analysis of 45 surgical specimens of bowel endometriosis obtained by laparoscopic segmental resection of the rectosigmoid (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). Setting: Tertiary referral hospital. Patients: forty-five patients were submitted to a segmental resection of the rectum due to endometriosis between July 2004 and September 2006. Interventions: Morphometric aspects of endometriotic lesions were analyzed, such as size and thickness of the lesion, deepest layer of bowel affected by lesion, and percentage of circumference of bowel affected by endometriosis. Measurements and Main Results: Results showed that in lesions that reached the submucous layer of the bowel, the circumference affected was 31.6% greater than in lesions that reached only the outer muscular layer, whereas in lesions that reached the mucous layer, the circumference affected was 52.5% greater than in those that reached the outer muscular layer of the bowel. In addition, 89.3% of lesions with an affected circumference greater than 40% were those affecting the submucous or mucous layers of the bowel. These results suggest that when a lesion reaches these 2 deepest layers of the rectosigmoid, risk increases that the circumference affected will be greater than 40% (relative risk = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0–2.3; p = .03). Conclusion: In endometriotic lesions affecting the rectosigmoid beyond the inner muscular layer of the bowel wall, more than 40% of the circumference of the rectosigmoid is affected by the disease, confirming the recommendation of segmental resection of the bowel for this form of the disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To analyze morphologic aspects of bowel endometriosis. Design: Prospective study of 35 consecutive cases of bowel endometriosis. Setting: Multidisciplinary group practice and teaching hospital. Patient(s): Thirty-five patients with bowel endometriosis were assessed between September 2003 and June 2005. Intervention(s): Histologic analysis of 35 tissue samples removed at laparoscopic rectosigmoidectomy. Main Outcome Measure(s): We performed an evaluation of lesion size, number of lesions present in the bowel, intestinal wall layers affected by the endometriotic lesion, circumference of the intestinal loop affected by the endometriotic lesion, and presence of lymph nodes with foci of endometriosis. Result(s): Analysis of the surgical samples revealed lymph nodes in the pericolic adipose tissue of 19 (54%), cases and in 5 of these cases (26.3%), endometriosis had affected the lymph nodes. When the thickness of the endometriotic lesion reached 1.75 cm, lymph nodes of all patients were affected, and all patients in whom more than 80% of the circumference of the intestinal loop was affected by endometriosis presented with positive lymph nodes. Conclusion(s): This study raises doubts about whether this form of the disease can still be considered a clinically benign disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To report the case of a patient submitted to laparoscopic bowel resection in whom histology revealed endometriosis and schistosomiasis. Design: Case report. Setting: Multidisciplinary group practice and teaching hospital. Patient(s): A 31-year-old patient with pelvic pain. Intervention(s): Laparoscopic bowel resection. Main Outcome Measure(s): Laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis affecting the sigmoid. Result(s): Histology performed on tissue removed at surgery revealed epithelioid granulomas with birefringent and partially calcified eggs characteristic of Schistosoma mansoni within an endometriotic lesion affecting the entire width of the sigmoid. Conclusion(s): Endometriosis and schistosomiasis may be present simultaneously in patients with bowel symptoms and pelvic pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]