Endometriosis; a review.

Endometriosis, the cause of which is unknown, is on the increase. Treatment is surgical-conservative in the childbearing years. Hormonal therapy is sometimes palliative for a time, and the disease may regress during pregnancy. Endometriosis of the bowel should be borne in mind in the differential diagnosis of partial obstruction. The literature contains reports of 14 cases of ovarian carcinoma arising from endometriosis.