Endometriomas with low-risk malignancy potential in ultrasonography with high human epididymis protein 4 and risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm: a cases series

Abstract

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that affects 5 to 15% of women of reproductive age. Data from large-cohort and case-control studies indicate an increased risk for ovarian cancers in women with endometrioma. Recently, as an ovarian cancer biomarker, human epididymal secretory protein E4 (HE4) has been increasingly investigated in the differentiating of endometrioma from ovary malignancy and in confirming the benign structure of the endometrioma. This case series study describes women who underwent surgery due to increased serum HE4 levels and higher Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) index, in whom the final pathology was reported as benign, although, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings showed features of “typical” endometrioma.

摘要

子宫内膜异位症是一种雌激素依赖型疾病, 影响5%至15%的育龄期妇女。来自大型队列和病例对照研究的数据表明, 患有子宫内膜异位症的妇女患卵巢癌的风险增加。近年来, 人附睾分泌蛋白E4(HE4)作为卵巢癌生物标志物在子宫内膜异位囊肿与卵巢恶性肿瘤的鉴别及子宫内膜异位囊肿良性结构确认方面的研究日益增多。这个病例系列研究描述了由于血清HE4水平升高和卵巢恶性肿瘤算法(ROMA)指数升高而接受手术的妇女, 尽管超声和磁共振成像(MRI)结果显示出“典型”子宫内膜异位症的特征, 但最终的病理报告为良性。

Keywords:

• Endometrioma
• human epididymal secretory protein e4
• risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm index

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank David F. Chapman, BSc, for editing the article.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.