Benign invasive growth of the endometrium into the myometrium is known as which condition?

• A. Adenomyosis
• B. Endometriosis
• C. Leiomyoma
• D. Endometrial Polyp

Answer: (A)

Adenomyosis is the invasion of endometrial glands and stroma into the myometrium, so the endometrium bleeds and proliferates within the muscle rather than staying confined to the inner lining. This benign infiltration typically leads to a uterus that is enlarged and sometimes globular, with symptoms such as heavy or painful periods. On ultrasound, you might see a thickened junctional zone and small myometrial cysts that reflect endometrial tissue inside the muscle, along with a somewhat diffuse, ill-defined myometrium rather than a discrete mass. In contrast, endometriosis involves endometrial tissue outside the uterus; a leiomyoma is a well-circumscribed fibroid within the myometrium; and an endometrial polyp is a growth inside the uterine cavity that does not invade the myometrium.