The occurrence of endometriosis with ovarian carcinomas is not purely coincidental

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the association between epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and common benign gynecological disorders. Study designThe medical records of 226 patients with EOC treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between March 2011 and March 2012 were reviewed. Histological evaluations had been performed to determine the presence of coexisting pelvic endometriosis (n=17), uterine leiomyoma (n=66), adenomyosis (n=22), or endometrial polyps (n=17). ResultsCoexistence of endometriosis occurred in 35.3% and 36.4% of cases of the clear cell and endometrioid subtypes of EOC histology, respectively. Endometriosis was more likely associated with clear cell or endometrioid ovarian carcinoma, but less likely with high grade serous cancer. No differences were observed in the concurrence of uterine myoma, adenomyosis or endometrial polyps among the different subtypes of EOC. ConclusionsIn contrast to other common benign gynecological disorders, endometriosis showed close relationships with the clear cell and endometrioid subtypes of EOC specifically.