Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 6/2012

01-12-2012 | Reproductive Medicine

Endometriosis in menopause: a single institution experience

Authors: Matteo Morotti, Valentino Remorgida, Pier Luigi Venturini, Simone Ferrero

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 6/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to present the clinical characteristics of a series of postmenopausal women with endometriosis and to evaluate the preferential location, extension and histopathological features of the lesions.

Methods

We retrospectively examined the clinical records of 72 postmenopausal women with endometriosis who underwent surgery between January 1998 and December 2010.

Results

The median age of patients at the time of surgery was 58.5 years. Eleven patients (15.3 %) had previous history of endometriosis and five patients had previously undergone surgery for this reason. Only two patients included in the study were using hormone replacement therapy at the time of surgery. The most frequent location of endometriotic lesions was the ovary and among patients with endometriomas, 35 % (20/57) had different grades of metaplasia, hyperplasia, atypia and endometrioid carcinoma arising in endometriosis. The proportions of epithelium, stroma and hemorrhage in endometriotic lesions were higher in patients with concomitant endometrial or ovarian cancer.

Conclusions

Endometriosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of postmenopausal cystic lesions of the ovary. The administration of exogenous estrogen is not a prerequisite for the presence of endometriosis in postmenopausal women, and histological signs of functionally active lesions were also observed in the absence of exogenous hormone intake.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Gurates B, Bulun SE (2003) Endometriosis: the ultimate hormonal disease. Semin Reprod Med 21:125–134PubMedCrossRef Gurates B, Bulun SE (2003) Endometriosis: the ultimate hormonal disease. Semin Reprod Med 21:125–134PubMedCrossRef
2.
go back to reference Ferrero S, Arena E, Morando A, Remorgida V (2010) Prevalence of newly diagnosed endometriosis in women attending the general practitioner. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 110:203–207PubMedCrossRef Ferrero S, Arena E, Morando A, Remorgida V (2010) Prevalence of newly diagnosed endometriosis in women attending the general practitioner. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 110:203–207PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Fagervold B, Jenssen M, Hummelshoj L, Moen MH (2009) Life after a diagnosis with endometriosis—a 15 years follow-up study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 88:914–919PubMedCrossRef Fagervold B, Jenssen M, Hummelshoj L, Moen MH (2009) Life after a diagnosis with endometriosis—a 15 years follow-up study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 88:914–919PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Punnonen R, Klemi PJ, Nikkanen V (1980) Postmenopausal endometriosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 11:195–200PubMedCrossRef Punnonen R, Klemi PJ, Nikkanen V (1980) Postmenopausal endometriosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 11:195–200PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Ranney B (1971) Endometriosis. III complete operations. Am J Obstet Gynecol 109:1137–1144PubMed Ranney B (1971) Endometriosis. III complete operations. Am J Obstet Gynecol 109:1137–1144PubMed
8.
go back to reference Rattanachaiyanont M, Angsuwatthana S, Inthawiwat S, Techatraisak K, Inthawiwat S, Leerasiri P (2003) Hormonal replacement therapy in surgical menopause with underlying endometriosis. J Med Assoc Thail 86:702–707 Rattanachaiyanont M, Angsuwatthana S, Inthawiwat S, Techatraisak K, Inthawiwat S, Leerasiri P (2003) Hormonal replacement therapy in surgical menopause with underlying endometriosis. J Med Assoc Thail 86:702–707
9.
go back to reference Al Kadri H, Hassan S, Al-Fozan HM, Hajeer A (2009) Hormone therapy for endometriosis and surgical menopause. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 21:CD005997 Al Kadri H, Hassan S, Al-Fozan HM, Hajeer A (2009) Hormone therapy for endometriosis and surgical menopause. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 21:CD005997
10.
go back to reference Rosa-e-Silva JC, Carvalho BR, Hde Barbosa, Poli-Neto OB, Rosa-e-Silva AC, Candido-dos-Reis FJ, Nogueira AA (2008) Endometriosis in postmenopausal women without previous hormonal therapy: report of three cases. Climacteric 11:525–528PubMedCrossRef Rosa-e-Silva JC, Carvalho BR, Hde Barbosa, Poli-Neto OB, Rosa-e-Silva AC, Candido-dos-Reis FJ, Nogueira AA (2008) Endometriosis in postmenopausal women without previous hormonal therapy: report of three cases. Climacteric 11:525–528PubMedCrossRef
11.
go back to reference Cumiskey J, Whyte P, Kelehan P, Gibbons D (2008) A detailed morphologic and immunohistochemical comparison of pre- and postmenopausal endometriosis. J Clin Pathol 61:455–459PubMedCrossRef Cumiskey J, Whyte P, Kelehan P, Gibbons D (2008) A detailed morphologic and immunohistochemical comparison of pre- and postmenopausal endometriosis. J Clin Pathol 61:455–459PubMedCrossRef
12.
go back to reference Kemper RD, Dockerty MB, Hunt AB, Symmonds RE (1960) Significant postmenopausal endometriosis. Surg Gynecol Obstet 111:348–356 Kemper RD, Dockerty MB, Hunt AB, Symmonds RE (1960) Significant postmenopausal endometriosis. Surg Gynecol Obstet 111:348–356
13.
go back to reference Oxholm D, Knudsen UB, Kryger-Baggesen N, Ravn P (2007) Postmenopausal endometriosis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 4:1–7 Oxholm D, Knudsen UB, Kryger-Baggesen N, Ravn P (2007) Postmenopausal endometriosis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 4:1–7
14.
go back to reference Bailey AP, Schutt AK, Modesitt SC (2010) Florid endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman. Fertil Steril 94:e1–e4CrossRef Bailey AP, Schutt AK, Modesitt SC (2010) Florid endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman. Fertil Steril 94:e1–e4CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Maeda T, Uchida Y, Nakajima F (2009) Vesical endometriosis following the menopause. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 20:1515–1517PubMedCrossRef Maeda T, Uchida Y, Nakajima F (2009) Vesical endometriosis following the menopause. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 20:1515–1517PubMedCrossRef
16.
go back to reference Deval B, Rafii A, Felce Dachez M, Kermanash R, Levardon M (2002) Sigmoid endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman. Am J Obstet Gynecol 187:1723–1725PubMedCrossRef Deval B, Rafii A, Felce Dachez M, Kermanash R, Levardon M (2002) Sigmoid endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman. Am J Obstet Gynecol 187:1723–1725PubMedCrossRef
17.
go back to reference Ackerman GE, Smith ME, Mendelson CR, MacDonald PC, Simpson ER (1981) Aromatization of androstenedione by human adipose tissue stromal cells in monolayer culture. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 53:412–417PubMedCrossRef Ackerman GE, Smith ME, Mendelson CR, MacDonald PC, Simpson ER (1981) Aromatization of androstenedione by human adipose tissue stromal cells in monolayer culture. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 53:412–417PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Velasco I, Rueda J, Acién P (2006) Aromatase expression in endometriotic tissue and cell cultures of patients with endometriosis. Human Reprod 12:377–381CrossRef Velasco I, Rueda J, Acién P (2006) Aromatase expression in endometriotic tissue and cell cultures of patients with endometriosis. Human Reprod 12:377–381CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Zeitoun KM, Bulun SE (1999) Aromatase: a key molecule in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and a therapeutic target. Fertil Steril 72:961–969PubMedCrossRef Zeitoun KM, Bulun SE (1999) Aromatase: a key molecule in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and a therapeutic target. Fertil Steril 72:961–969PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Colette S, Lousse JC, Defrère S, Curaba M, Heilier JF, Van Langendonckt A, Mestdagt M, Foidart JM, Loumaye E, Donnez J (2009) Absence of aromatase protein and mRNA expression in endometriosis. Hum Reprod 24:2133–2141PubMedCrossRef Colette S, Lousse JC, Defrère S, Curaba M, Heilier JF, Van Langendonckt A, Mestdagt M, Foidart JM, Loumaye E, Donnez J (2009) Absence of aromatase protein and mRNA expression in endometriosis. Hum Reprod 24:2133–2141PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Somigliana E, Vigano’ P, Parazzini F, Stoppelli S, Giambattista E, Vercellini P (2006) Association between endometriosis and cancer: a comprehensive review and a critical analysis of clinical and epidemiological evidence. Gynecol Oncol 101:331–341PubMedCrossRef Somigliana E, Vigano’ P, Parazzini F, Stoppelli S, Giambattista E, Vercellini P (2006) Association between endometriosis and cancer: a comprehensive review and a critical analysis of clinical and epidemiological evidence. Gynecol Oncol 101:331–341PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Zanetta GM, Webb MJ, Li H, Keeney GL (2000) Hyperestrogenism: a relevant risk factor for the development of cancer from endometriosis. Gynecol Oncol 79:18–22PubMedCrossRef Zanetta GM, Webb MJ, Li H, Keeney GL (2000) Hyperestrogenism: a relevant risk factor for the development of cancer from endometriosis. Gynecol Oncol 79:18–22PubMedCrossRef
23.
go back to reference Soliman NF, Hillard TC (2006) Hormone replacement therapy in women with past history of endometriosis. Climacteric 9:325–335PubMedCrossRef Soliman NF, Hillard TC (2006) Hormone replacement therapy in women with past history of endometriosis. Climacteric 9:325–335PubMedCrossRef
24.
go back to reference Christodoulakos G, Augoulea A, Lambrinoudaki I, Sioulas V, Creatsas G (2007) Pathogenesis of endometriosis: the role of defective ‘immunosurveillance’. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 12:194–202PubMedCrossRef Christodoulakos G, Augoulea A, Lambrinoudaki I, Sioulas V, Creatsas G (2007) Pathogenesis of endometriosis: the role of defective ‘immunosurveillance’. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 12:194–202PubMedCrossRef
25.
go back to reference Manero MG, Royo P, Olartecoechea B, Alcazar JL (2009) Endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman without previous hormonal therapy: a case report. J Med Case Reports 18:13 Manero MG, Royo P, Olartecoechea B, Alcazar JL (2009) Endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman without previous hormonal therapy: a case report. J Med Case Reports 18:13
26.
go back to reference Protopapas AG, Diakomanolis ES, Milingos SD, Rodolakis AJ, Markaki SN, Vlachos GD, Papadopoulos DE, Michalas SP (2004) Tubo-ovarian abscesses in postmenopausal women: gynecological malignancy until proven otherwise? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 114:203–209PubMedCrossRef Protopapas AG, Diakomanolis ES, Milingos SD, Rodolakis AJ, Markaki SN, Vlachos GD, Papadopoulos DE, Michalas SP (2004) Tubo-ovarian abscesses in postmenopausal women: gynecological malignancy until proven otherwise? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 114:203–209PubMedCrossRef
27.
go back to reference Faure AC, Faure C, Messica O, Margossian H, Ory JP (2011) Perimenopausal discovery of endometriomas on ovarian abscess. Gynecol Obstet Fertil 39:e20–e22PubMedCrossRef Faure AC, Faure C, Messica O, Margossian H, Ory JP (2011) Perimenopausal discovery of endometriomas on ovarian abscess. Gynecol Obstet Fertil 39:e20–e22PubMedCrossRef
28.
go back to reference Chen MJ, Yang JH, Yang YS, Ho HN (2004) Increased occurrence of tubo-ovarian abscesses in women with stage III and IV endometriosis. Fertil Steril 82:498–499PubMedCrossRef Chen MJ, Yang JH, Yang YS, Ho HN (2004) Increased occurrence of tubo-ovarian abscesses in women with stage III and IV endometriosis. Fertil Steril 82:498–499PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Endometriosis in menopause: a single institution experience
Authors
Matteo Morotti
Valentino Remorgida
Pier Luigi Venturini
Simone Ferrero
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 6/2012
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2473-5

Other articles of this Issue 6/2012

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 6/2012 Go to the issue