Endometrioid Ovarian Carcinoma

Endometrioid ovarian carcinoma represents up to 15% of ovarian malignancies. Unlike serous and mucinous ovarian neoplasms, but similar to clear cell tumors, the overwhelming majority of endometrioid tumors are malignant and invasive. Thus, they constitute the second most common malignant ovarian neoplasm.

Approximately 25% of endometrioid cancers are bilateral and up to 1/3 are associated with endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma. Despite the histologic similarity between the endometrial and ovarian lesions, they are thought to represent independent primary lesions rather than metastatic disease.

Pathologically, most endometrioid carcinomas are thought to arise from the surface epithelium and only rarely from pre-existing endometriosis.

Similar to other epithelial ovarian neoplasms, endometrioid ovarian carcinomas have variable cystic and solid components, but unlike the others, they may occasionally be completely solid. A solid ovarian tumor in a postmenopausal woman with concomitant endometrial neoplasm or hyperplasia would suggest the diagnosis of an endometrioid ovarian carcinoma.

References

• Kawamoto S, Urban BA, Fishman EK. CT of epithelial ovarian tumors. Radiographics. 1999 Oct;19 Spec No:S85-102.
• Wagner BJ, Buck JL, Seidman JD, McCabe KM. From the archives of the AFIP. Ovarian epithelial neoplasms: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiographics. 1994 Nov;14(6):1351-74.