What is the term for the involvement of endometriosis in the uterine myometrium?

Adenomyosis refers to the condition in which endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, begins to grow within the myometrium, the muscular layer of the uterine wall. This condition often results in an enlarged uterus and can lead to symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain.

In adenomyosis, the endometrial glands and stroma invade the myometrial tissue, disrupting the normal architecture of the uterus, which can sometimes mimic or coexist with other uterine disorders. The key distinguishing feature of adenomyosis is the presence of this endometrial tissue within the myometrium, setting it apart from other conditions that affect the uterus.

Endometrial hyperplasia refers to the thickening of the endometrium without the infiltration into the myometrium, while leiomyoma refers to benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus (commonly known as fibroids), which do not involve endometrial tissue. Lastly, endometriosis specifically denotes the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, rather than within it.

Adenomyosis is unique in that it specifically denotes the invasion of the endometrial tissue into the myometrial layer, which directly addresses the question regarding the condition's involvement