Prevalence and risk factors of adenomyosis at hysterectomy

TLDR

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of adenomyosis. The authors reviewed medical records and re‑examined histopathology of 549 women who underwent hysterectomy between 1990 and 1991. Prevalence ranged from 10.0–18.2% depending on diagnostic criteria, and endometrial hyperplasia was the only significant risk factor (OR = 3.0), with no association found with cesarean section, curettage, evacuation, pain, indication for hysterectomy, age, parity, or number of myometrial samples.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The present study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and possible associated risk factors for adenomyosis. METHODS: Medical records were retrieved and histo-pathological material re-examined for 549 consecutive women undergoing hysterectomy in a two-year period from 1990–1991. RESULTS: The prevalence of adenomyosis in the study varied from 10.0–18.2%, depending on different diagnostic criteria. The presence of endometrial hyperplasia at the time of hysterectomy was the only variable significantly associated with adenomyosis (OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.2–8.3). No statistically significant association was found between adenomyosis and previous caesarean section, endometrial curettage or evacuation of the uterus. Furthermore, we did not see any significant association between adenomyosis and pain-related symptoms, indication for hysterectomy, age, parity or number of myometrial samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our study stresses the need for precise diagnostic criteria for adenomyosis, and furthermore indicates that endometrial hyperplasia and adenomyosis may have a common aetiology.