What is the Difference Between Adenomyosis and Uterine Cancer

The key difference between adenomyosis and uterine cancer is that adenomyosis is a condition that causes the tissue that normally lines the uterus to grow into the muscular wall of the uterus, while uterine cancer is a condition that causes developing abnormal cells that grow out of control in the uterus.

A gynecological condition is a disorder that affects the normal function of female reproductive organs. Adenomyosis and uterine cancer are two different types of gynecological conditions. Moreover, these conditions have different etiologies. Hence, they need to be managed separately.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Adenomyosis  
3. What is Uterine Cancer
4. Similarities – Adenomyosis and Uterine Cancer
5. Adenomyosis vs. Uterine Cancer in Tabular Form
6. FAQ: Adenomyosis and Uterine Cancer
7. Summary – Adenomyosis vs. Uterine Cancer

What is Adenomyosis?

Adenomyosis occurs when the endometrial tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. The symptoms of this particular condition include heavy or prolonged bleeding, severe cramping, pelvic pain during menstruation, and painful intercourse. Adenomyosis can be caused by invasive tissue growth, developmental origin problems, uterine inflammation related to childbirth, and stem cell origin problems. Moreover, the risk factors for adenomyosis include prior uterine surgery, childbirth, and middle age (40s and 50s).

A pelvic examination, ultrasound, MRI of the uterus, and endometrial biopsy can diagnose adenomyosis. Furthermore, treatment options for adenomyosis may include anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone medications, and hysterectomy.

What is Uterine Cancer?

The uterus is the place where a baby grows when a woman is normally pregnant. There are different types of uterine cancers. The most common type is endometrial cancer, where the cancer occurs in the lining of the uterus. Another common type of uterine cancer is uterine sarcoma, where the cancer grows in the myometrium, which is the muscle wall of the uterus. The common symptoms of uterine cancer may include abdominal, vaginal bleeding or discharge, trouble urinating, pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse. Uterine cancer is caused by mutated cells that grow and multiply out of control. Moreover, risk factors for this condition are age (older than 50), obesity, taking estrogen by itself for hormone replacement during menopause, trouble getting pregnant, taking tamoxifen as a drug for breast cancer, having close family members with uterine, colon, or ovarian cancer, and genetic mutations including BRAC1 or BRAC2 genes or one associated with Lynch syndrome.

Uterine cancer can be diagnosed through family history, physical examination, pelvic examination, CT scan, MRI, transvaginal ultrasound, endometrial biopsy, hysteroscopy, dilation, and curettage. Furthermore, treatment options for uterine cancer may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and surgeries like total abdominal hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy, radical hysterectomy, minimally invasive hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), and lymph node dissection (lymphadenectomy).

What are the Similarities Between Adenomyosis and Uterine Cancer?

• Adenomyosis and uterine cancer are two different gynecological conditions.
• Both these conditions only affect females.
• They may have similar symptoms, such as pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding.
• Both can be diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests, and biopsies.
• They can be treated through specific medications, therapies, and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Adenomyosis and Uterine Cancer?

Adenomyosis is a condition that causes the tissue that normally lines the uterus to grow into the muscular wall of the uterus, while uterine cancer is a condition that results in abnormal cells that grow out of control in the uterus. Thus, this is the key difference between adenomyosis and uterine cancer. Furthermore, the risk factors for adenomyosis include prior uterine surgery, childbirth, and middle age (40s and 50s). On the other hand, the risk factors for uterine cancer include age (older than 50), obesity, taking estrogen by itself for hormone replacement during menopause, trouble getting pregnant, taking tamoxifen as a drug for breast cancer, close family members with uterine, colon or ovarian cancer and genetic mutations, including BRAC1 or BRAC2 genes or one associated with Lynch syndrome.

The infographic below presents the differences between adenomyosis and uterine cancer in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: Adenomyosis and Uterine Cancer

Can adenomyosis turn into cancer?

• Adenomycosis turning into a cancer is very rare.

What is the danger of adenomyosis?

• Adenomyosis is associated with severe bleeding and endometrial and ovarian cancers.

What is the first sign of uterine cancer?

• The most common symptom of the uterine cancer is unusual vaginal bleeding.

Summary – Adenomyosis vs. Uterine Cancer

Gynecological conditions are a set of pathologies that affect female reproductive organs. These conditions directly affect the female’s reproductive health. Adenomyosis and uterine cancer are two different gynecological conditions. Both these conditions may have similar symptoms, like pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding. However, adenomyosis occurs due to the growth of the inner lining of the uterus, called endometrium through the muscle wall of the uterus. Uterine cancer is due to abnormal cell growth out of control in the uterus. So, this summarizes the difference between adenomyosis and uterine cancer.

Reference:

1. “Adenomyosis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Uterine Cancer-Patient Version.” National Cancer Institute.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Uterine adenomyosis — high mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Uterine, Bile Duct and Breast Cancer” By National Human Genome Research (Public Domain) via Flickr