Diagnosis and laparoscopic treatment of an unusual case of advanced extragenital endometriosis

Endometriosis is considered to be a benign gynaecological disorder, although several pathophysiological aspects of endometrial lesions resemble the behaviour of malignant tissue: similar to carcinomas, endometriotic cells are able to invade and destroy surrounding anatomical structures. Although the medical treatment of endometriotic lesions, including the use of GnRH analogues or gestagens, show temporary effectiveness and have been reported to cause a regression of disease, they rarely provide long-term relief of symptoms in advanced stages of endometriosis involving extragenital organs, such as the rectum or the urinary system. We here describe the diagnosis and minimally invasive surgical treatment of an unusually advanced case of endometriosis involving the rectosigmoid, the urinary bladder and the ureter, leading to secondary hydronephrosis and loss of renal function.