Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial cells outside the uterus, most commonly in pelvic locations such as the ovaries, bladder, or bowel. The condition is benign, chronic, and often painful and affects up to 15% of reproductive-age women, including women in menarche and menopause.

Cutaneous endometriosis is a rare condition where the endometrial cells are found in the skin, either spontaneously or following abdomino-pelvic surgery. Of women affected by endometriosis, cutaneous endometriosis accounts for only 0.5%-1% of cases.

The cutaneous condition begins with slow-growing, tender, reddish-brown papules or nodules of the skin and can cause cyclical pain associated with menses.

There are multiple theories regarding the pathophysiology of the cutaneous condition, including iatrogenic implantation of endometrial tissue into the skin, venous / lymphatic metastasis, and metaplasia. The most likely cause for cutaneous endometriosis occurring after abdomino-pelvic surgery (eg, cesarean delivery) is microscopic seeding at the excision site.

Related topics: Endometriosis, Endometriosis of lung