Is Endometriosis a Truly Benign Disorder? Report of a Case of Intestinal Endometriosis with Lymph Node Metastasis

Endometriosis may affect the gastrointestinal tract in 3 to 37% of cases. However ileal involvement is rare accounting for 1-7% of all intestinal localizations. The case of a patient with an endometrial nodule on distal ileum wall, causing acute intestinal obstruction, who underwent right colectomy, is reported. The histology of the removed specimen also revealed the involvement of a regional lymph node. Several features of endometriosis raise questions about the benign nature of this disease.