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Embryologic origin of endometriosis: Analysis of 101 human female fetuses
Author(s) -
Signorile Pietro G.,
Baldi Feliciano,
Bussani Rossana,
Viceconte Rosa,
Bulzomi Pamela,
D'Armiento Mariarosaria,
D'Avino Alfredo,
Baldi Alfonso
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.22888
Subject(s) - endometriosis , stroma , fetus , endometrium , uterine cavity , etiology , pathological , pathology , immunohistochemistry , medicine , autopsy , uterus , biology , pregnancy , obstetrics , genetics
The etiology of endometriosis, a gynecological disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity, is still unknown. Our research group has recently demonstrated the presence of ectopic endometrium in human female fetuses at different gestational ages. In this manuscript we describe four new cases of fetal endometriosis found among a series of 52 female fetuses analyzed at autopsy. The anatomical localization of this ectopic endometrium, and its histological and immunohistochemical characteristics are depicted. We suggest that endometriosis is caused by dislocation of primitive endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity during organogenesis. The clinical and pathological implications of these findings are discussed. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 1653–1656, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.