Published online Sep 16, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i26.6240
Peer-review started: May 26, 2023
First decision: August 8, 2023
Revised: August 19, 2023
Accepted: August 23, 2023
Article in press: August 23, 2023
Published online: September 16, 2023
Processing time: 105 Days and 4.7 Hours
Endometriosis is a common benign gynecological disease that causes dysmenorrhea in women of childbearing age. Malignant tumors derived from endometriosis are rarely reported and are found in only 1% of all patients with endometriosis. Here, we report a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) caused by squamous metaplasia of endometriosis that co-occurred in the uterus and ovaries.
A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman had a 6-month history of irregular uterine bleeding. The uterus and adnexa were examined by computed tomography, and there were two solid cystic masses in the pelvis and right adnexa. Histological findings of surgical specimens showed well-differentiated SCC arising from squamous metaplasia of ectopic endometrial glands in the uterus and ovaries. The patient received chemotherapy after surgery and was followed up for 3 mo without metastasis.
The continuity between ectopic endometrial glands and SCC supports that SCC originates from ectopic endometrial glands with metaplasia towards squamous epithelium.
Core Tip: We report a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma arising from squamous metaplasia of endometriosis that co-occurred in the uterus and ovaries. To date, the reported cases were all treated with paclitaxel combined with carboplatin chemotherapy after radical surgery. In most cases, including ours, the patients tolerated chemotherapy well, and demonstrated dramatic responses, such as disappearance of metastases and no relapse.