Adenomyosis is best described as which of the following?

• A. Endometrial tissue growing into the muscular wall of the uterus.
• B. Endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus
• C. Malignant tumor of the cervix
• D. Inflammation of the ovaries

Answer: (A)

Adenomyosis is when endometrial tissue that normally lines the uterine cavity grows into the muscular wall of the uterus (the myometrium). This intrusion thickens the uterine wall and causes cyclic bleeding inside the wall, leading to heavy, painful periods and sometimes an enlarged, tender uterus.

This description is the best because it specifies the endometrial tissue invading the myometrium, which is the hallmark of adenomyosis. It differs from endometriosis, where the tissue is located outside the uterus; it is not a cervical cancer (a malignant tumor of the cervix) and not an inflammation of the ovaries.