PURPOSE: To evaluate the US and CT findings of abdominal wall endometrioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We respectively reviewed nine patients with abdominal wall masses diagnosed as endometrioma during a recent three-year period. Both US and CT scans were performed in six cases, only ultrasound in one, and only CT scans in two. The location, size, shape, margin, internal echo or density, enhancement patterns, and relation to adjacent masses, as seen on US and CT images, were reviewed. RESULTS: All patients had a previous history of deliveries by caesarian section. All masses were 2-4.5cm in size ; five were located in subcutaneous layers and four in musclel ayers. In all cases, sonographic findings were low echoic masses with irregular margins(7/7). Internal echotextures were inhomogeneous in five cases and homogeneous in two. On CT, masses in subcutaneous layers(5/8)showed spiculated margins and linear enhancement of the rectus muscle fascia. In cases of lesion located in muscle(3/8), slight thickening of the rectus muscle was visible on precontrast CT scans, but on postcontrast CT scans, well-defined enhancing masses, separate from the rectus muscle were seen. CONCLUSION: When patients with a previous history of caesarian section present palpable abdominal wall masses, with cyclic pain, sonographic findings of a low echoic mass separated from the internal organs, and CT findings of a strongly enhanced mass are useful for the diagnosis of endometrioma.
Abdominal Wall* ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Fascia ; Female ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography*