Endometriosis of the rectus abdominis muscles.

The authors report three cases of endometriosis of the rectus abdominis mus cle, presenting as a mass of the abdominal wail associated with pain during menstruation in women with a history of cesarian section. Treatment consis ted in wide surgical resection followed by prosthetic abdominal wall repair in one recurrent case. Abdominal wall endometriosis is a rare disease that can be explained by grafting of endometrial cells to the abdominal wall du ring laparotomy for pelvic surgery, particularly cesarian section. Isolatio n of the abdominal wall during cesarian section and irrigation of the abdom inal wall at the end of the operation are two theoretical measures designed to prevent endometrial cell engraftment. When abdominal wall endometriosis occurs, only radical surgical resection can prevent recurrence. (C) 2000 E ditions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.