A Case of Primary Inguinal Endometriosis with No Previous Surgical History

Choi, Myoung Eun; Paik, Seung Hwan; Lee, Ye Jin; Lee, Woo Jin

Abstract

Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial glands and mucosa exist outside of the uterus. It affects approximately 15% of menstruating women and the most frequent site involved is the pelvic cavity. Extrapelvic endometriosis is uncommon. Cutaneous endometriosis is commonly associated with previous surgical scars, but in rare cases, it can occur spontaneously. We report a case of a 42-year-old Korean woman who presented with a skin-colored nodule on the left inguinal area. The patient had no history of previous surgery. Tenderness was the only symptom associated with the lesion and there was no cyclic pain or swelling aggravating during menstrual periods. Histopathology revealed endometrial stroma surrounding the glandular structures and hemosiderin-laden macrophages compatible with the diagnosis. This case demonstrates that primary inguinal endometriosis can present with different clinical features and calls for awareness of the possibility of inguinal endometriosis in patients with tender nodules of the inguinal area.