[Ovarian cancer and endometriosis]

Endometriosis is a relatively common condition found in up to 29% of women undergoing laparotomies. The authors suggest that endometriosis could have undergone malignant change. They propose the criteria used to establish that a malignant tumor has develop in endometriosis: clear evidence of endometriosis should be found close to the tumor, the histopathological appearance should be such that origin of the tumor from endometriosis is plausible, no other primary site should be found. The authors consider that atypical endometriosis possesses a precancerous potential or is most frequently associated with endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas.