Diagnosis and management of intestinal endometriosis. A report of five cases.

Five cases of intestinal endometriosis presented with infertility and pelvic pain. Rectal bleeding occurred in two patients and diarrhea in one. A diagnosis was achieved with a barium enema study and colonoscopy. All the patients had pelvic endometriosis as documented by laparoscopy. Endometriosis was present in the sigmoid colon in three patients and in the cecum in one; it was pericecal in the fifth. Bowel resection and pathologic study are necessary to relieve the symptoms and avoid neglecting a malignant tumor or other lesions.