Risk Factors for Postoperative Recurrence of Ovarian Endometrioma in Young Women

Abstract Background: Ovarian endometroma seriously affects women's health, and is susceptible to recurrence after surgery. However, only a few studies have been conducted to asses the risk factors for postoperative recurrence of ovarian endometrioma in young women, and no risk factors associated with recurrence have been found. The purpose of this study is to analyse the risk factors for postoperative recurrence of ovarian endometrioma in young women. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed 196 young women who underwent ovarian endometrioma resection in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Shengjing Hospital from January 2008 to January 2018 and were followed-up for at least 3 years postoperatively. The patients were divided into a recurrence group or a non-recurrence group. Their preoperative histories, laboratory indexes, intraoperative manifestations, and follow-up symptoms were analysed. Results: The cumulative recurrence rate of ovarian endometrioma in young women 3 and 5 years after surgery was 8.0%, and 20.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in cancer antigen-125 levels (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.207, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.126–9.135, P = 0.029), the revised American Fertility Society (rAFS) disease stage (HR: 4.588, 95%CI: 1.422–14.805, P =0.011), postoperative pregnancy (HR: 0.28, 95%CI: 0.109–0.723, P = 0.008), and postoperative dysmenorrhoea (HR: 2.465, 95%CI :1.320–4.604, P = 0.005) between the two groups. Cox multivariate proportional risk analysis showed that rAFS disease stage (HR:3.783, 95%CI: 1.162–12.311, P=0.027) and postoperative dysmenorrhoea (HR: 2.291, 95%CI :1.222–4.296, P = 0.01) were risk factors for postoperative recurrence of ovarian endometrioma, whereas postoperative pregnancy (HR: 0.361, 95%CI: 0.138–0.944, P=0.038) was a protective factor for postoperative recurrence. There was no significant correlation between recurrence of ovarian endometrioma and age at surgery, age at the time of menarche, body mass index, duration of dysmenorrhoea, degree of dysmenorrhoea, genital malformation, surgical approach, maximum diameter of the cyst, and postoperative medication. Conclusion: rAFS disease stage and postoperative dysmenorrhoea are risk factors for the recurrence of ovarian endometrioma during long-term follow-up, whereas postoperative pregnancy is a protective factor.