[Gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin caused by a metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma. Response to hormonal therapy].

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy. Gastrointestinal tract involvement is unusual and is often limited to local invasion of the rectum in advanced disease.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 77-year-old woman who presented with intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding 2 years after treatment of stage IIb EC. Biopsy of a subcutaneus nodule showed fibroadipose tissue infiltrated by an EC. A computed tomography scan showed extensive lymphatic, abdominal and pelvic recurrence of the cancer. A source of bleeding in the small bowel was detected by scintigraphic study with 99mTc-marked red blood cells. Control of bleeding and a 22-month survival were obtained after treatment with oral medroxyprogesterone acetate.

DISCUSSION: We review digestive tract involvement in EC and previously published data on small bowel metastases. We also review the role of hormone therapy in the management of this disease.