Ovarian endometriosis associated with ovarian cancer and endometrial-endocervical polyps.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of ovarian cancer and endometrial polyps in women with moderate and severe ovarian endometriosis.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 667 cases of moderate and severe endometriosis laparoscopically and histologically confirmed during the period 1997-2004.


RESULTS
One hundred and ninety-three (29%) of cases were American Fertility Society (AFS) stage III (moderate endometriosis) and 473 (71%) were AFS stage IV (severe endometriosis). Ovarian cancer was diagnosed in 13 cases (2.0%), while an endometrial or endocervical polyp was identified in 35 cases (5.3%). The incidence of endometrial polyps in the group with moderate endometriosis tended to be higher (15/193, 7.8%) than in the group with severe endometriosis (20/473, 4.2%), and the same results were obtained in the ovarian cancer group (moderate: 6/193, 3.1%; severe: 7/473, 1.5%). However, neither of the two differences was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian endometriosis may be associated with an increased incidence of both ovarian cancer and endometrial polyps. Careful evaluation for coexistent pathology should be undertaken in women with symptomatic endometriosis.
Kontoravdis
Antonios
A
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Augoulea
Areti
A
Lambrinoudaki
Irene
I
Christodoulakos
George
G
Tzortziotis
Dimitrios
D
Grammatikakis
Ioannis
I
Kontoravdis
Nikolaos
N
Creatsas
George
G
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000150:complications; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011127:Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*