Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancersPathogenesis and consequences on daily practice

Abstract


Endometriosis is considered as a tumor-like lesion under the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of ovarian tumors. Data from large cohort and case-control studies indicate that patients with a history of endometriosis have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Recent findings suggest an association between endometriosis and the entire type 1 ovarian tumors group including clear-cell, endometrioid and low-grade serous carcinomas. However, current evidence is lacking to draw definitive conclusion whether this association represents causality or the sharing of common risk factors. Nevertheless, assumption that endometriosis could be a precursor of malignancy raises many issues about serial screening, surgical management and surveillance of endometriosis. Beyond these concerns, endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers seem to be a genuine clinical entity as regards clinicopathological features. In view of the high incidence of endometriosis (10 % of women of childbearing age), the low incidence of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers and the psychological consequences for those women, systematic screening and surgical exploration seem very questionable in this context.