Introduction:

Endometriosis is a benign, inflammatory, estrogen-dependent disease characterized by the existence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. It affects 10-20 % of women of reproductive age. Ascites is the pathological accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity. The occurrence of ascites secondary to endometriosis is rarely found and appears more often in black nulliparous females.

Objective:

To present a patient who underwent elective exploratory laparotomy for ascites secondary to endometriosis.

Clinical case:

30-year-old female patient, black skin color, with a history of primary infertility. Attended in Gynecology consultation for presenting increase in volume and abdominal discomfort of several months of evolution; detecting ascites and a left adnexal mass. Laparomoty was performed, finding hemorrhagic ascites, pelvic adhesions, and a left ovarian cyst. Ascites fluid aspiration, adnexectomy and biopsy of omentum, and umbilicus were performed. The histological diagnosis reported adnexal endometriosis, umbilicus and omentum. Treatment with danazol was indicated and she had a satisfactory evolution without further ascites.

Conclusions:

The ascites-endometriosis association is very rare. It is an infrequent entity that mainly affects nulliparous women, of childbearing age and of black skin color. It mimics a gynecologic malignancy and is rarely recognized prior to surgical exploration of the abdomen. Therefore, its study is necessary to achieve a timely diagnosis and treatment.

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