Endometriosis is established as a precursor lesion for certain epithelial ovarian cancers. Which histological subtype carries the strongest association with endometriosis?

• A Serous carcinoma
• B Mucinous carcinoma
• C Germ cell tumour
• D Clear cell carcinoma ✓

Explanation

Clear cell carcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary are the subtypes most strongly linked to endometriosis, arising through malignant transformation of endometriotic implants, with mutations such as ARID1A implicated. Serous carcinoma arises predominantly from the fallopian tube fimbriae via the STIC pathway, mucinous tumours are usually metastatic or teratomatous in origin, and germ cell tumours arise from primitive germ cells unrelated to endometriosis.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.