An ileal endometrioma: Of carcinoids and cadherin

Rahul Pannala, Adam Gafni-Kane, Mark Kidd, Irvin M. Modlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 38-year-old woman with history of prior adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome presented with intermittent right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and non-bloody diarrhea for 2 months. Symptoms were not related to her menstrual periods. Examination revealed only an ill-defined mass in the RLQ. Investigations for infectious causes, inflammatory bowel disease, and carcinoid tumor were negative. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a terminal ileal mass with mesenteric stranding and dilatation of the proximal bowel. At laparotomy, a fibrotic, terminal ileal mass with matted adhesions involving the mesentery and retroperitoneum was resected. Histopathological examination identified multiple foci of endometriosis extending from the serosal surface into the mucosa of the terminal ileum. Immunostaining revealed E- and P-cadherin, but not N-cadherin immunopositivity. Mucosal involvement without cyclical menstrual symptoms and intestinal obstruction is an unusual presentation of intestinal endometriosis. Although the mechanism of endometriosis is not clear, the role of cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins has received attention. Increased expression of E- and P-cadherin and decreased N-cadherin expression in our patient demonstrates differential expression of these cadherins in endometriotic tissue. Future studies may investigate patterns of differential expression of these cadherins in a series of cases to elucidate the mechanisms of migration of endometriotic tissue.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)229-232
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007

Keywords

  • Cadherin
  • Endometriosis
  • Ileum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

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