Endometriosis and risk of ovarian cancer

Endometriosis is common in premenopausal women and affects about 10% of women of reproductive age. It is a benign condition but demonstrates malignant behaviour with recurrences and metastases. Its tendency to increase the risk of specific subtypes of ovarian cancer is being discussed, because they exhibit specific clinical features that distinguish them from classical ovarian cancer. Malignant transformation of endometriosis goes through its transition to atypical endometriosis. Although endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinomas have a good prognosis, adequate follow-up and monitoring after treatment of endometriosis are recommended.