Transvaginal ultrasound and MRI are used to diagnose adenomyosis. On transvaginal ultrasound, the uterus may appear globally enlarged with heterogeneous myometrial texture and poorly defined endometrial-myometrial junction. MRI can identify adenomyosis as increased junctional zone thickness over 12mm with T2 hyperintense foci. Hysteroscopy with biopsy can confirm the diagnosis but is rarely used. Treatment options include NSAIDs, hormonal therapy like combined oral contraceptives or progestogens to reduce bleeding and pain, and long-acting reversible contraceptives like the levonorgestrel IUS.
3. ULTRASONOGRAPHY
• Transabdominal sonography does not identify the often subtle myometrial changes of adenomyosis.
• TVS is preferred
• Findings on TVS are:
(1) Anterior or posterior myometrial wall appearing thicker than its counterpart
(2) Myometrial texture heterogeneity
(3) Small myometrial hypoechoic cysts, which are cystic glands within ectopic endometrial foci
(4) Striated projections extending from the endometrium into the myometrium
(5) Ill-defined endometrial echo
(6) Globally enlarged uterus
4. • Transvaginal usg shows globular uterine
enlargement and heterogeneous myometrial
texture.
Uterine wall thickening can show
anteroposterior asymmetry, and here the
posterior wall is thicker.
The endo-myometrial junction is also poorly
defined
5. MUSA ( Morphological uterus sonographic assessment)
• It is a diagnostic criteria
• Presence of 2 or more of these 8 criteria highly
associated with a diagnosis of adenomyosis
Asymmetrical myometrial thickening
Myometrial cysts
Hyperechoic islands
Fan shaped shadowing
Echogenic sub endometrial lines and buds
Translesional vascularity
Irregular junctional zone
Interrupted junctional zone
6. MRI
• MR imaging may be equal or slightly superior to TVS (Dueholm, 2001; Reinhold, 1996). Thus, MR imaging may be most
appropriate when the diagnosis is inconclusive, when further delineation would affect patient management, or when
coexisting uterine myomas distort anatomy (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2014b).
• T2-weighted sequences are key for diagnosing adenomyosis
• Adenomyosis appears as increased thickness of the junctional zone, forming an ill-defined area of low
signal intensity on T2, representing the smooth muscle hyperplasia accompanying the heterotopic
endometrial tissue. This aspect is frequently associated with bright foci on T2-weighted images, which
represent foci of heterotopic endometrial tissue, cystic dilatation of endometrial glands or haemorrhagic
foci.
• Adenomyosis is mainly located in the fundus [20] and commonly observed in the posterior wall. The
typical appearance is a large, rand asymmetric uterus, with a maximum junctional zone thickness of at
least 12 mm and punctate high-intensity myometrial foci [17].
• There are two forms of adenomyosis: diffuse, in which foci of adenomyosis are distributed throughout the
uterus (Fig. 1), and focal form, also named adenomyoma, when it affects a limited area (Fig. 2). The most
frequent finding for the diagnosis of adenomyosis is thickening of the junctional zone, with a thickness
exceeding 12 mm being highly predictive of the diagnosis
7. • Diffuse adenomyosis: Sagittal T2-
weighed image; thickening of the
junctional zone forming an ill-
defined area of low signal intensity,
with punctate high-intensity
myometrial foci (white arrow)
8. • Focal adenomyosis: Sagittal T2-
weighed image; focal asymmetric
thickening of the junctional zone
forming an ill-defined area of low
signal intensity (black arrow)
9. HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY
• Hysterosalpingography with water
based medium demonstrate
multiple spiculations or tuft defects
extending from endometrium to
myometrium
• It is not reliable in the diagnosis of
adenomyosis
10. • HYSTEROSCOPIC MYOMETRIAL BIOPSY-
Biopsy of the posterior uterine wall with the use of 5 mm loop electrode
can diagnose adenomyosis on histological examination, but rarely performed
• CA125
CA125 levels are elevated in women with adenomyosis,
They may also be elevated in those with leiomyomas, endometriosis,
pelvic infection, and pelvic malignancies
11. MANAGEMENT
MEDICAL TREATMENT-
• NSAIDs ( Nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs)
For young women with dysmenorrhea and heavy menstrual bleeding
• Combined oral contraceptive pills and Progestogens-
To induce endometrial atrophy and decrease prostaglandin production to improve
dysmenorrhea and heavy menstrual bleeding
12. GnRH agonists –
• Goserelin or leuprolide depot once a month for 3-6 month used in women
with adenomyosis with infertility, before surgery for pain relief, and to
decrease size od adenomyoma and vascularity
• Recurrence is common after discontinuation of treatment.
LNG-IUS (Levonorgestrel intrauterine system –
• It is useful in management of adenomyosis by causing decidualization and
atrophy of adenomyotic foci
• It also reduce menstrual blood flow and dysmenorrhea