What is the difference between adenomyosis and adenomyoma?

What is the difference between adenomyosis and adenomyoma?

Both adenomyosis and uterine fibroids are common in women of childbearing age. Both can manifest as enlargement and hardening of the uterus or the formation of tumor-like nodules. Both can cause varying degrees of increased menstrual flow, prolonged menstrual periods, and menstrual abdominal pain, but the two are completely different diseases.

The two tumors have different components. Adenomyosis is a mixture of endometrial glands and stroma in the muscular layer, while myoma is a tumor-like proliferation of myofibroblasts.

Second, the pathogenesis of the two is different. Adenomyosis may be related to the endometrium with super-ectopic migration, implantation and growth ability. Uterine fibroids are caused by abnormal sensitivity of uterine vascular wall smooth muscle cells or uterine myometrial smooth muscle cells to certain hormone-regulated growth factors and abnormal local cell proliferation.

Third, the dysmenorrhea of ​​adenomyosis is very severe, while simple myomas are not painful. Adenomyosis is mostly spherical and enlarged, with a larger posterior wall, and the uterus with myomas is irregularly enlarged, and uneven tumor nodules can be touched.

Fourth, the lesions of adenomyosis are mainly located on the posterior wall, showing coarse granular, uneven point-like echoes, unclear boundaries, and a high internal blood flow resistance index. Uterine fibroids can occur in any part of the uterus. The fibroids have clear boundaries, unique vortex echoes inside, blood flow around the fibroids, and a low resistance index.

Fifth, the effects of conservative surgical treatment are different. Adenomyosis lesions cannot be removed, and the treatment effect is poor. Normal muscle wall uterine fibroids have loose pseudocapsules that can be completely removed, and the treatment effect is good.