Endometriosis and Endometriosis-Associated Tumors

In: Gynecologic and Obstetric Pathology · 2025 · pp. 1535–1565 · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-4822-8_12 · W4411132205
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This chapter reviews current understanding of endometriosis etiology, pathogenesis, and clinicopathologic features, exploring how advanced technologies may aid diagnosis, symptom management, and therapy.

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This chapter reviews endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder affecting about 10% of reproductive-aged women, focusing on its etiology, pathogenesis, and clinicopathologic features. It highlights links between endometriosis and immune dysfunction, infertility, and increased risk of ovarian and other cancers, while noting that diagnosis can be difficult because endometriotic lesions show cellular complexity and heterogeneity with atypical stromal and glandular features and nonspecific symptoms. The chapter emphasizes that predictive noninvasive biomarkers are still lacking, and that the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood despite evidence for genetic contributions and possible abnormalities in endometrial epithelial progenitors. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it provides a broad synthesis of causes, mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and the endometriosis–cancer association.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent, inflammatory disorder that affects ~10% of reproductive-aged women. The condition, characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside of the uterine cavity, is multifactorial and highly recurrent, and causes chronic pelvic pain and other morbidities (e.g., depression, asthma, and migraines) that significantly diminish quality of life. The disease is linked to immune dysfunctions, infertility, and increased risk for ovarian and other (e.g., breast and endometrial) cancers. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood but is considered to have a significant genetic component and may involve abnormal endometrial epithelial progenitors. The histological diagnosis of endometriosis may be compromised by the cellular complexity and heterogeneity of the endometriotic foci which can manifest a spectrum of lesions with distinct and atypical features of stromal and glandular components. Moreover, signs and symptoms of endometriosis remain nonspecific, and a current lack of predictive noninvasive biomarkers precludes early diagnosis. This chapter aims to provide current understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinicopathologic features of endometriosis, and how emerging information from state-of-the-art technologies may be exploited for the diagnosis, management of symptoms, and therapy in women with this condition. Angela S. Kelley was an author in the previous edition, but has not contributed to the current edition. Access this chapter Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout Purchases are for personal use only Similar content being viewed by others

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Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4822-8_12 Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4822-8_12 Published: Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore Print ISBN: 978-981-97-4821-1 Online ISBN: 978-981-97-4822-8 eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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