What is the Difference Between Leiomyoma and Adenomyosis

The key difference between leiomyoma and adenomyosis is that leiomyoma is a medical condition characterized by the formation of benign muscular tumors on the uterus, small bowel, or esophagus, while adenomyosis is a medical condition characterized by the growth of cells that proliferate inside the uterus, which leads to thickening of the uterus.

The medical conditions that affect the uterus or any part of the reproductive system are referred to as uterine problems. Leiomyoma and adenomyosis are two common uterine problems.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Leiomyoma 
3. What is Adenomyosis
4. Similarities – Leiomyoma and Adenomyosis
5. Leiomyoma vs Adenomyosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Leiomyoma vs Adenomyosis

What is Leiomyoma?

Leiomyoma is a medical condition characterized by the formation of benign muscular tumors on the uterus, small bowel, or esophagus. Leiomyoma is mainly found in the uterus. This condition is also called uterine fibroids. Leiomyoma rarely turns into uterine cancer. Leiomyoma is caused due to different factors such as genetic changes, high levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone, other growth factors (insulin growth factors), and extracellular matrix (ECM). The typical symptoms of leiomyoma may include heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual period lasting for more than a week, pelvic pain, frequent urination, difficulties in emptying the bladder, constipation, backache, and pain in the leg.

Figure 01: Leiomyoma

Moreover, leiomyoma can be diagnosed through a pelvic examination, ultrasound, lab test (complete blood count), MRI scan, hysterosonography, hysterosalpingography, and hysteroscopy. Furthermore, leiomyoma can be treated through medications (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD), tranexamic acid), other medications (oral contraceptive and anti-inflammatory medicines), non-invasive procedures (MTI guided focussed ultrasound surgery), minimally invasive procedures (uterine artery embolization, radiofrequency ablation, robotic myomectomy, hysteroscopic myomectomy, and endometrial ablation) and traditional surgical procedures (abdominal myomectomy and hysterectomy).

What is Adenomyosis?

Adenomyosis is a medical condition that is characterized by the growth of cells that proliferate inside the uterus, which leads to the thickening of the uterus. When the disease progresses, the uterine tissue thickens, sheds, and bleeds during every menstrual cycle. Adenomyosis can be normally seen in women aged between 35 to 50. Patients suffering from this condition may experience symptoms such as painful menses (dysmenorrhea), profuse menses (menorrhagia), pain during sexual intercourse, chronic pelvic pain, irritation of the urinary bladder, painful menstrual cramps, blood clots during menstrual bleeding, and infertility. Adenomyosis is caused due to the invasive growth of endometrial cells in the uterine muscle, uterine inflammation that occurs after childbirth, extra tissues in the uterine wall, or stem cells in the uterine muscle wall.

Figure 02: Adenomyosis

Moreover, adenomyosis can be diagnosed through physical and pelvic examinations, ultrasound, and MRI scans. Furthermore, treatment options for adenomyosis may include anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen), hormonal treatments to control estrogen that may be contributing to the symptoms, endometrial ablation, uterine artery embolization, ultrasound-guided focussed ultrasound surgery, and hysterectomy.

What are the Similarities Between Leiomyoma and Adenomyosis?

• Leiomyoma and adenomyosis are two common uterine problems.
• Both conditions are predominantly found in women.
• Both conditions may have similar symptoms, such as pelvic pain, menstrual bleeding, etc.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through pelvic pain and ultrasound.
• They are treated through specific medications and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Leiomyoma and Adenomyosis?

Leiomyoma is a medical condition characterized by the formation of benign muscular tumors on the uterus, small bowel, or esophagus, while adenomyosis is a medical condition characterized by the growth of cells that proliferate inside of the uterus, which leads to thickening of the uterus. Thus, this is the key difference between leiomyoma and adenomyosis. Furthermore, leiomyoma can be normally seen in women aged between 40 to 60. On the other hand, adenomyosis can be normally seen in women aged between 35 to 50.

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

Summary – Leiomyoma vs Adenomyosis

Leiomyoma and adenomyosis are two common uterine problems. Both these conditions may have similar symptoms, such as pelvic pain, uterine bleeding, etc. Leiomyoma refers to the formation of benign muscular tumors on the uterus, small bowel, or esophagus. In contrast, adenomyosis refers to the growth of cells that proliferate inside the uterus, which leads to the thickening of the uterus. So, this summarizes the difference between leiomyoma and adenomyosis.

Reference:

1. “Leiomyoma of Uterus (Uterine Fibroid).” Osmosis.
2. “Adenomyosis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Histopathology of uterine leiomyoma (Van Gieson’s stain)” By Mikael Häggström, M.D  – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Adenomyosis, Hysterectomy Specimen” By Ed Uthman, MD –  (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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