Endometriosis: a disease that remains enigmatic
- PMID: 23956867
- PMCID: PMC3730176
- DOI: 10.1155/2013/242149
Endometriosis: a disease that remains enigmatic
Abstract
Endometriosis, a gynecologic pathology, is defined by the presence of a tissue similar to uterine endometrium, which is located in places other than physiologically appropriate. These endometrial heterotopic islets contain glands and stroma and are functionally capable of responding to exogenous, endogenous, or local hormonal stimuli. Endometriosis affects 8%-10% of women of reproductive age; in 30% of the women, the condition is associated with primary or secondary infertility. In several instances, endometriosis persists as a minimal or mild disease, or it can resolve on its own. Other cases of endometriosis show severe symptomatology that ends when menopause occurs. Endometriosis can, however, reactivate in several postmenopausal women when iatrogenic or endogenous hormones are present. Endometriosis is occasionally accompanied by malignant ovarian tumors, especially endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas. Its pathogenesis is widely debated, and its variable morphology appears to represent a continuum of individual presentations and progressions. Endometriosis has no pathognomonic signs or symptoms; it is therefore difficult to diagnose. Because of its enigmatic etiopathogenesis, there is currently no satisfactory therapy for all patients with endometriosis. Treatments include medications, surgery, or combined therapies; currently, the only procedures that seem to cure endometriosis are hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In this paper, we review the most controversial and enigmatic aspects of this disease.
Similar articles
-
Reoperation and pain-related outcomes after hysterectomy for endometriosis by oophorectomy status.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Jan;228(1):57.e1-57.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.08.044. Epub 2022 Aug 24. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023. PMID: 36029832
-
Pharmacologic management of endometriosis.Clin Pharm. 1991 Jul;10(7):518-31. Clin Pharm. 1991. PMID: 1830521 Review.
-
Endometriosis after menopause.Womens Health (Lond). 2015 Aug;11(5):711-5. doi: 10.2217/whe.15.59. Epub 2015 Sep 7. Womens Health (Lond). 2015. PMID: 26343168 Review.
-
Primary endometrioid carcinoma of the uterosacral ligament arising from deep infiltrating endometriosis 6 years after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy due to atypical proliferative endometrioid tumor of the ovary: a rare case report.World J Surg Oncol. 2020 Dec 11;18(1):329. doi: 10.1186/s12957-020-02105-1. World J Surg Oncol. 2020. PMID: 33308243 Free PMC article.
-
Laparoscopic surgery in endometriosis.Minerva Ginecol. 2008 Aug;60(4):323-30. Minerva Ginecol. 2008. PMID: 18560348 Review.
Cited by
-
Impact of Endometriosis-Related Adhesions on Quality of Life among Infertile Women.Int J Fertil Steril. 2019 Apr;13(1):72-76. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2019.5572. Epub 2019 Jan 6. Int J Fertil Steril. 2019. PMID: 30644248 Free PMC article.
-
Combined Effect of the PGR +331C > T, CYP17A1 -34A > G and CYP19A1 1531G > A Polymorphisms on the Risk of Developing Endometriosis.Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2017 Jun;39(6):273-281. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1604097. Epub 2017 Jun 14. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2017. PMID: 28614857 Free PMC article.
-
Clinical diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis: a scoping review.BMC Womens Health. 2015 May 8;15:39. doi: 10.1186/s12905-015-0196-z. BMC Womens Health. 2015. PMID: 25952159 Free PMC article.
-
Computational and Bioinformatics Methods for MicroRNA Gene Prediction.Methods Mol Biol. 2022;2257:349-373. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1170-8_17. Methods Mol Biol. 2022. PMID: 34432287
-
Surgical removal of endometriotic lesions alters local and systemic proinflammatory cytokines in endometriosis patients.Fertil Steril. 2016 Apr;105(4):968-977.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.11.047. Epub 2015 Dec 14. Fertil Steril. 2016. PMID: 26698677 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Sampson JA. The escape of foreing material from the uterine cavity into the uterine veins. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 1918;2:p. 161.
-
- Ruiz-Velasco V. Endometriosis. Mexico, México: Intersistemas; 2004.
-
- Ozkan S, Murk W, Arici A. Endometriosis and infertility: epidemiology and evidence-based treatments. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2008;1127:92–100. - PubMed
-
- Goh JTW, Hall BA. Postmenopausal endometrioma and hormonal replacement therapy. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1992;32(4):384–385. - PubMed
-
- Acién P. Tratado de Obstetricia y Ginecología: Ginecología. chapter 17. Alicante, Spain: Ediciones Molloy; 2004. Endometriosis; pp. 619–690.
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources