The difference between uterine fibroids and adenomyomas

Uterine fibroids and adenomyomas are both common benign lesions of the female reproductive organs, but they are different diseases and their symptoms also have their own characteristics.

1. Symptoms

The prominent symptoms of uterine fibroids are heavy menstruation and irregular bleeding. The size of the fibroids varies greatly, with large ones weighing tens of kilograms and small ones even with dozens or hundreds of fibroids growing at the same time.

The prominent symptom of adenomyosis is secondary dysmenorrhea. As age increases, the pain will become more and more severe and may even affect normal life and work. The uterus also enlarges, but rarely exceeds the size of a 3-month pregnant uterus.

2. Auxiliary examination

Uterine fibroids and adenomyomas are similar in age of onset, symptoms and signs, making them difficult to differentiate. They often require auxiliary examinations for diagnosis, the most common of which is B-ultrasound. In addition, vaginal B-ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound and other examinations can also be used to improve the accuracy of differentiation between the two. The ultrasound manifestations of the two are:

In the case of uterine fibroids, the uterus becomes enlarged and its contour varies. The tumor is spherical and mostly hypoechoic. There is a boundary between the tumor and the muscle wall, and there are circular or semi-circular blood flow signals around the tumor.

In adenomyosis, the uterus enlarges, the muscle layer thickens, and the posterior wall becomes more obvious, causing the endometrial line to move forward. The lesion site is often isoechoic or slightly echogenic, and sometimes point-like low echoes can be seen. There is no obvious boundary between the lesion and the surrounding area.