Prevalence and risk factors of adenomyosis at hysterectomy.

Abstract

The present study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and possible associated risk factors for adenomyosis. Medical records were retrieved and histo-pathological material re-examined for 549 consecutive women undergoing hysterectomy in a two-year period from 1990-1991. 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. Our study stresses the need for precise diagnostic criteria for adenomyosis, and furthermore indicates that endometrial hyperplasia and adenomyosis may have a common aetiology.