The purpose of the study is to explore and systematize the endoscopic features of colorectal endometriosis and to evaluate the role of colonoscopy in its diagnosis.
Material and methods: Were analyzed 320 diagnostic colonoscopies performed during the period from March 2011 till November 2012 in patients admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of "infiltrative form of external endometriosis".
Results: Among all the identified cases of intestinal endometriosis (n = 67) pathological process was localized more often in the upper section of the rectum ampullar - 38 (56.7%), less often were revealed lesions of lower ampullar section of rectum and anal canal in 5 (7.4%). In 6 (8.9%) cases were detected multifocal lesions of the intestine. Authentic signs of colorectal endometriosis were detected in lesions of the mucous membrane. These include: polypoid growths above the endometriosis lesion (15 (22.4%)), endometrioid heterotopias in the colon mucosa (7 (10.4%)), the presence of ulceration of the mucous membrane in the projection of endometriosis (4 (5.9%)) geoidal mucosa (3 (4.5%)). Colorectal endometriosis can be systematized according to the following endoscopic criteria: localization of the pathological focus, growth, the presence of mucosal lesions.