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©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2007; 13(33): 4517-4519
Published online Sep 7, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i33.4517
Published online Sep 7, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i33.4517
Gallbladder endometriosis as a cause of occult bleeding
K Saadat-Gilani, L Bechmann, G Gerken, A Canbay, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, Germany
A Frilling, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Ali Canbay, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Essen, Hufelandstr 55D-45122 Essen, Germany. ali.canbay@uni-due.de
Telephone: +49-201-7233679 Fax: +49-201-7235970
Received: March 14, 2007
Revised: May 10, 2007
Accepted: May 18, 2007
Published online: September 7, 2007
Revised: May 10, 2007
Accepted: May 18, 2007
Published online: September 7, 2007
Abstract
A 17-year-old girl with colicky abdominal pain and chronic anemia presented to the gastrointestinal service of the University Hospital of Essen. In the routine workup, there were no pathological findings despite the anemia. Because of the fluctuation of symptoms with a climax at the time of menstruation, consecutive ultrasound studies were performed revealing a visible mass inside the gallbladder. This finding was confirmed by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study performed at the same time. Because of the severe anemia by that time, a cholecystectomy was performed, and histology reconfirmed the diagnosis of isolated gallbladder endometriosis. The patient recovered well and has had no recurrence of the disease to date.
Keywords: Gallbladder, Endometriosis, Bleeding, Menstrual cycle, Abdominal pain