To the clinic, diagnosis and etiology of endometrioid heterotopias

Endometrioid heterotopia or endometriosis means endometri-like formations outside the normally developed endometrium (Lauhe). Endometrioid heterotopies can be located: 1) in the uterus itself (adenomyosis - endometriosis interna (according to Frankl, Lam and R. Meyer, and 2) outside the uterus (adenomyosis uteri externa sive extrauterina): in the tubes, ovaries, ligaments of the uterus, the wall of the sigmoid and straight intestines, the appendix, the navel, in the postoperative scars of the anterior abdominal wall, in the groin, in the wall of the bladder, in the vagina, paravaginal tissue and vulva (Geller, Geidinger, Pankov, Mark, etc.).

From the morphological point of view, endometrioid heterotopies are branching glandular growths that are not clearly delimited from adjacent tissues, possessing infiltrating growth and having a cystic, spongy appearance; their cavities are often filled with brown ("chocolate") or dark brown contents.