Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, causing pelvic pain, infertility, and cancer. The condition reduces the quality of life for the estimated 10% of menstruating women who are affected by it. This book provides a clear insight into the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis-essential information for clinicians intending to successfully treat the condition. The first part covers a range of topics including stem cells, NK cells, macrophages, inflammation, cytokines, epigenetics, prostaglandin, sex steroids, aromatase, apoptosis, nerve fibers, and malignant transformation to aid in understanding the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the disease. The second part provides useful tools for therapy, specifically, notable recent techniques in prevention, imaging, biomarkers, medical treatments, surgical treatments, prevention of recurrence, and infertility treatments. Each chapter was written by an expert in the field, with nearly 40 researchers and clinicians contributing to the work. This book will be highly useful to clinicians as well as to research scientists who are interested in this enigmatic disease.

Autorentext
Dr. Tasuku Harada started his carrier as an assistant professor at Torrori University, Japan, and promoted to full Professor in 2008 there. He is one of the top scientists in Japan and well-known with his studies on endometriosis and ovarian cancer. He is one of the organization committee members of Second Asian Conference on Endometriosis (ACE II) in Istanbul, Turkey, from where he has invited many of the authors of this book.

Inhalt

Preface.- PART. INTRODUCTION.- Endometriosis: a mysterious disease.- Part. BASIC SCIENCE.- Pathological aspect and pathogenesis of endometriosis.- Visible and invisible (occult) endometriosis.- Role of stem cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.- Role of NK cells in endometriosis.- Macrophages in Pathophysiology of Endometriosis.- Inflammation and Cytokines in Endometriosis.- Epigenetics in endometriosis.- Roles of Prostaglandin E2 in Endometriosis.- Sex steroids and endometriosis.- Aromatase expression in endometriosis and its significance.- Apoptosis in Endometriosis.- Role of nerve fibres in endometriosis.- Endometriosis in experimental models.- Malignant transformation of endometriosis underlying mechanisms.- Potential new drugs for endometriosis: experimental evidence.- Altered Biological Characteristics of Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrium.- Part. CLINICAL SCIENCE.- Prevention of Endometriosis.- MR imaging of endometriosis.- Biomarkers of endometriosis.- Classification of Endometriosis.- The Association of Endometriosis with Ovarian Cancer: A Critical Review of Epidemiological Data.- Surgical management of endometriosis.- Systematic laparoscopic surgery of complete obliteration of the cul-de-sac.- Prevention of recurrence after surgery.- Ovarian reserve in patients with endometriosis.- Infertility treatment of endometriosis patients.- Pregnancy complications associated with endometriosis.- Malignant transformation of endometriosis.