title: Medical treatment for adenomyosis and/or adenomyoma.
abstract: Uterine adenomyosis and/or adenomyoma is characterized by the presence of heterotopic endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium, >2.5 mm in depth in the myometrium or more than one microscopic field at 10 times magnification from the endometrium-myometrium junction, and a variable degree of adjacent myometrial hyperplasia, causing globular and cystic enlargement of the myometrium, with some cysts filled with extravasated, hemolyzed red blood cells, and siderophages. Hysterectomy is a "gold standard" and definitive therapy for uterine adenomyosis, and many cases of adenomyosis have been diagnosed by pathological review retrospectively. As such, the diagnosis of adenomyosis is difficult, and this subsequently results in difficulty in the management of these patients, especially those who are symptomatic but have a strong desire to preserve their uterus. In our previous review, we found that the use of uterine-sparing surgery in the management of uterine adenomyosis and/or adenomyoma is still controversial, although some data support its feasibility. Conservative treatment is still needed in the group of patients that requires preservation of fertility and improvement of quality of life. However, studies focusing on the topic of medical treatment for adenomyosis are rare. In this article, current knowledge regarding the use of medical therapy for uterine adenomyosis, partly based on the understanding of endometriosis, is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Hao
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Oriental Institute of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bor-Chin
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Shyen
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: tinchang.chang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ting-Chang
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Immunology Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Infection and Immunity Research, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: phwang@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Peng-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D018194:Adenomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D062788:Adenomyosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D011372:Progestins
keywords: adenomyoma; adenomyosis; medical treatment; symptom relief