Aromatase inhibitor for treatment of a recurrent abdominal wall endometrioma in a postmenopausal woman

Fertil Steril. 2009 Sep;92(3):1170.e1-1170.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.05.071. Epub 2009 Jul 9.

Abstract

Objective: Treat an abdominal wall endometrioma in a post-menopausal patient.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Patient(s): A post-menopausal women with a large recurrent abdominal wall endometrioma.

Intervention(s): The patient was managed with the combination of an aromatase inhibitor, a progestin, and serial cyst aspiration.

Main outcome measure(s): Serum and cyst estradiol levels as well as sonographic demonstration of resolution.

Result(s): Serum and cyst estradiol levels were significantly diminished and the cyst diminished in size.

Conclusion(s): Taken together, this case demonstrates a novel approach for managing and monitoring medical therapy for unusual clinical presentations of endometriosis. Furthermore, it illustrates that endometriotic implants can be a source of circulating estrogen in postmenopausal women, and that this source of estrogen is generated by increased aromatase activity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Wall*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Endometriosis / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Letrozole
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitriles / therapeutic use*
  • Postmenopause*
  • Recurrence
  • Thoracic Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Nitriles
  • Triazoles
  • Letrozole