Characteristics of Patients with Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer

  Objective  To explore the characteristics of patients with endometriosis and ovarian cancer.

  Methods  We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 33 patients with endometriosis and ovarian cancer treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1997 to April 2009.

  Results  The average age of 33 patients with endometriosis and ovarian cancer was 45.3 years. Most patients had ovarian clear cell cancers. Twenty-four patients were at stage Ⅰ when they were diagnosed as ovarian cancer. Five patients combined with endometrial lesions. Nineteen cases had the endometriotic lesion in ovarian, while 14 cases outside of ovary. The average five-year survival rate was 60% and the average tumor-free survival time was 41.9 months.

  Conclusions  Patients with both ovarian cancer and endometriosis are younger than those without endometriosis. The pathological types of ovarian cancer are usually epithelial cancers, especially clear cell cancer, sometimes combined with endometrial cancer. Endometriosis might be an indicator of better prognosis for patients with ovarian cancer.