Computed tomography appearance of subcutaneous endometrioma

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine
• Surgical pathology
• Diagnostic imaging

Background:

• Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
• Subcutaneous endometriosis is an uncommon manifestation, typically associated with surgical scars.
• Diagnostic modalities for subcutaneous endometriosis have primarily included ultrasound.

Observation:

• A patient presented with confusing symptoms suggestive of an abdominal mass.
• Computed tomography (CT) was utilized for diagnostic imaging.
• A lesion in the abdominal subcutaneous tissue was identified.

Findings:

• The abdominal lesion was diagnosed as subcutaneous endometrioma.
• Computed tomography (CT) proved effective in detecting this rare condition.
• This contrasts with previous reports emphasizing ultrasound's diagnostic utility.

Implications:

• Computed tomography (CT) can be a valuable tool for diagnosing subcutaneous endometrioma, even with atypical presentations.
• This finding expands the known diagnostic capabilities for extragenital endometriosis.
• Further research may clarify the role of CT versus ultrasound in diagnosing subcutaneous endometriosis.