Association between ovarian endometriosis and malignancy in the peri-menopausal period: report of two cases and review of the literature

The association of endometriosis and ovarian malignancy is about 1%, with a peak incidence in patients over 45 years. The best way of treating peri- and post-menopausal women with endometriosis is still a very controversial issue. We report two cases of peri-menopausal women in which endometriosis was associated to ovarian malignancy. The first case was a 49-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic oophorectomy for an ovarian endometrioid cyst. Definitive histology showed ovarian endometrioid cyst with endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma. Subsequently, surgical restaging was performed. The other case was a 49-year-old woman who underwent hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy for an ovarian mass suggestive of endometriosis and uterine myomas. At frozen section examination, ovarian adenocarcinoma was found and staging procedure was performed. Definitive histology showed carcinosarcoma of the ovary with areas of endometriod adenocarcinoma. Given the non-infrequent association between ovarian endometriosis and cancer, more data are needed to decide for an aggressive or conservative approach to peri-menopausal endometriosis.