Objective To investigate the clinical features and management of ureteral endometriosis. Methods Patients surgically and histologically diagnosed as ureteral endometriosis from January 2001 to January 2007 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Results Ten patients were diagnosed as ureteral endometriosis among 7 561 cases with surgically and histologically proved diagnosis of endometriosis

with an incidence of 0.132%. Nine out of 10 patients were extrinsic ureteral endometriosis and concomitant with severe pelvic endometriosis

and the other was intrinsic ureteral endometriosis. Hormone therapy failed in 2 patients with urinary tract obstruction. Ureterolysis was performed in 6 patients and ureterectomy was performed in 4 patients. One case of ureteral recurrence was observed in a postmenopausal woman without hormonal replacement therapy who received laparoscopic ureterolysis and hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy. No relapse was observed in the other 9 patients. Conclusions Ureteral endometriosis is a rare entity. The upper urinary tract should be evaluated in patients with severe endometriosis

even in postmenopausal women. The treatment of ureteral endometriosis usually requires surgery

while ureterolysis should not be performed in patients with extensive disease. As a form of adjuvant therapy of surgery

hormonal therapy is an appropriate option.