Endometriosis and risk of ovarian cancer: what do we know?

Purpose: Despite long and intensive research, endometriosis remains one of the leading causes of morbidity among premenopausal women. The majority of endometriosis-related ovarian carcinomas occur in the presence of atypical ovarian endometriosis. Nevertheless, despite the increased incidence of ovarian cancer in patients with endometriosis, our knowledge of the risk factors and mechanisms is still incomplete. Method: Narrative overview, synthesizing the recent findings of literature retrieved from databases. Results: Herein, we reviewed and summarized the most recent knowledge regarding endometriosis and ovarian cancer. Conclusion: The evidence showing that patients with endometriosis have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer is compelling. However, the question of how much higher the absolute risk is, is not fully clear.