Description
Clinical attitudes to endometriosis are changing and different variants of the disease emerging, i.e. ovarian, pelvic and rectovaginal septal. Treatment options are also changing and excision, rather than ablation, is becoming more common, leading to more available tissue for histological diagnosis and research. The biochemical, immunological and structural similarities between endometriosis and neoplasia are becoming evident and better recognised, which may lead to more effective treatment for pelvic endometriosis. Cystic endometriosis, in the ovaries in particular, is now believed to have a very significant risk of progression to malignancy, particularly in the post menopausal woman. The range of tumours that may occur in association with endometriosis is wide, but most are ovarian and of endometrioid or clear cell type.
