Karanikolopoulos P, Εvaggelinakis E, Kassanos D
3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Attiko hospital, Athens, Greece
Correspondence: Evaggelinakis N, 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Attiko hospital, 1 Rimini St, GR-12464, Αthens, Greece, E-mail: evangelinakisnikos@yahoo.gr
Abstract
Endometriosis is a disease that affects millions of women around the world, with significant impact on their quality of life. Modern therapeutic approaches mainly aim to relieving women from their symptoms-cronic pelvic pain and infertility-while its potential role as predisposing factor for several types of cancer, especially for ovarian cancer, is still under investigation. There is an intense research activity in order to clarify its pathogenesis, and new data arise from many centers. Immunologic factors, cell adhension molecules, vascular and endocrine factors have been extensively studied, broadening the horizons for the treatment or even the cure of the disease in the future.
Keywords: endometriosis, pathogenesis, malignant transformation, genetic predisposal
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