[Ileal endometriosis. An uncommon cause of bowel obstruction in women in fertile age].

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. It affects ~5-10% of women in their reproductive years. When it affects the intestine, it tends to be confused clinically with a wide variety of affections, which is why it has sometimes been called "the great simulator". A review of the literature shows that intestinal localization is rare and that obstruction secondary to this cause is even more unusual, with preoperative diagnosis being a challenge for surgeons. With the purpose of highlighting clinical and diagnostic imaging characteristics that help the preoperative suspicion of this entity, so rare in routine practice, we present two cases of women who underwent emergency surgery, without a previous diagnosis of endometriosis and with intestinal occlusion as the first manifestation of the disease. Treatment of intestinal occlusion by endometriosis consists of intestinal resection of the affected sector and primary anastomosis. Diagnosis of intestinal occlusion secondary to ileal endometriosis is based on a high index of suspicion and should be considered in women of childbearing age, without a history of disease and with a history of painful menstruation.