Current treatments for endometriosis in South Korea: an analysis of nationwide data from 2010 to 2019

Case report: Malignant transformation of ovarian endometrioma during long term use of dienogest in a young lady

Endometriosis is a benign disease, which is also regarded as a precursor to ovarian malignancy. Dienogest is a progestin treatment for endometriosis with efficacy and tolerability. A 35-year-old Taiwanese lady with ovarian endometrioma had taken dienogest for the last 5 years. During sonographic follow-up, surgery was suggested owing to suspicious of malignant transformation of ovarian endometrioma. While she hesitated and turned to receive two cycles of oocyte retrieval because of nulliparity. Meanwhile, more papillary growth in the ovarian endometrioma with intratumor flow was found during follow-up. Laparoscopic enucleation was performed later, and pathology revealed clear cell carcinoma with peritoneal involvement, at least FIGO stage IIB. She then underwent debulking surgery to grossly no residual tumor and received adjuvant chemotherapy with no tumor recurrence in post-operative 17-months follow-up. Considering fertility preservation, conservative treatment of ovarian endometrioma is typically indicated for those women who have not yet completed childbearing. However, malignant transformation may still occur despite long-term progestin treatment. Therefore, careful image follow-up is still indispensable.

Biomarkers of endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the most severe female reproductive disorders, affecting 6-10% of women between 18 and 35. It is a gynaecological condition where endometrial tissue develops and settles outside the uterus. The aetiology of endometriosis is primarily influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and non-genetic variables, making it highly challenging to create a therapeutic therapy explicitly targeting the ectopic tissue. The delay in the treatment is due to the limitations in the diagnostic approaches, which are restricted to invasive techniques such as laparoscopy or laparotomy. This accords to 70% of the women being diagnosed at later stages. By understanding the subject, several treatment medications have been produced to lessen the disease's symptoms. Nevertheless, endometriosis cannot be permanently cured. A viable or persuasive standard screening test for endometriosis must be utilized in a clinical context. A helpful assessment method for the early identification of endometriosis could be biomarkers. A major research priority is the identification of a biomarker that is sensitive and specific enough for detecting endometriosis. The present article has reviewed studies published on the expression of biomarkers of endometriosis. It outlines various biomarkers from different sample types, such as serum/plasma and urine, in addition to tissue. This would provide a non-invasive approach to diagnosing the disease at the initial stages without any harmful repercussions. Future high-throughput advances in science and technology are anticipated to result in the creation of a potent remedy for endometriosis. To achieve successful outcomes, it is necessary to research the discussed biomarkers that demonstrate substantial results extensively.