Postmenopausal endometriosis： a retrospective analysis of 69 patients during a 20-year period

Endometriosis, characterized by endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, is a frequently occurred benign gynecologic disease that afflicts mainly women of reproductive age, with a prevalence of 6% to 10%. Endometriosis can be subdivided into ovarian, peritoneal and deep infiltrating types, with the deep infiltrating endometriotic lesions closely related with pain symptoms.1 Though a rare clinical occurrence, endometriosis does affect 2%-5% women in their postmenopausal years, with many of the cases reported having been under hormone replacement therapy （HRT）. With the ovaries being its most common sites, postmenopausal endometriosis poses a 1% risk of malignant transformation, as well as an increased risk of ovarian cancer.2 Usually with abdominal or pelvic mass the only clinical finding before surgery, almost al! cases reported were diagnosed retrospectively by pathologic examinations.