Abstract
Some 150 years ago, pathologists identified “mucosal invasions” in peritoneal organs. The term “adenomyoma” was coined to refer to these epithelial lesions and the surrounding smooth muscle and stroma. Early descriptions featured rare and unusual presentations, but it became increasingly apparent that the presence of ectopic mucosa is relatively frequent.
Similarity to endometrial mucosa was readily recognized, but extensive debate followed about the nature and origin of these “mucosal invasions”; many refused this interpretation. Only around 1920, their “endometrial nature” became widely accepted. Central to this was the work of Thomas Cullen, who provided detailed accounts of lesions located within various pelvic structures.
At the same time, few pioneers questioned whether “adenomyomas” represent only one type of lesion. Oskar Frankl coined the name “adenomyosis” to distinguish “endometrial nests” deep in the myometrium from other affections. This marked the “genesis” of a new disease and the recognition of its clinical significance.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey KV. The etiology, classification and life history of tumours of the ovary and other female pelvic organs containing aberrant Müllerian elements, with suggested nomenclature. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Emp. 1924;31:539–79.
Lockyer C. Fibroids and allied tumours (myoma and adenomyoma). London: Macmillan; 1918.
Babes G. Über epitheliale Geschwulste in Uterusmyomem [About epithelial tumors in uterine fibroids]. Allgem Wiener Med Ztschr. 1882;27:36–48.
Diesterweg B. Ein Fall von Cystofibrom uteri verum [A case of cystofibroma uteri verum]. Zeitschr Gebursthilfe. 1883;9:191.
von Recklinghausen F. Über die Adenocysten der Uterus-tumoren und über Reste des Wolfschen Organs [About the adenocysts of the uterine tumors and the remains of the Wolf organ]. Deutsche Med Wochenschr. 1893;46:824–6.
von Recklinghausen F. Über Adenomyome des Uterus und der Tuba [About the ademomyomas of the uterus and the tube]. Wiener klin Wochenschr. 1895;29:530–6.
Rokitansky C. Über Uterusdrüsen-Neubildung in Uterus- und Ovarial-Sarcomen. [On the neoplasm of uterus glands on uterine and ovarian sarcomas]. Zeitschr Gesellschaft der Aerzte in Wien. 1860;16:577–81.
Kolb JM. Pathologische Anatomie der weiblichen Sexualorgane [Pathological anatomy of the female sexual organs]. Vienna: Wilhelm Braumüller; 1864.
Röhrig A. Erfahrungen über verlauf und prognose der uterusfibromyome [Experience on the course and prognosis of uterine fibromyomas]. Zeitschrift für Geburtshulfe und Gynäkologie. 1880;5:265–316.
von Recklinghausen F. Die Adenomyomata und Cystadenomata der Uterus und Tubenwandung: Ihre Abkunft von Resten des Wolffischen Körpers [The adenomyomas and cystadenomas of the uterus and tube wall: their origin from remnants of the Wolffian body]. Berlin: August Hirschwald Verlag; 1896.
Kossman R. Die Abstammung der Drüseneinschlüsse in der Uterus und der Tuben [The lineage of the glandular inclusions in the uterus and tubes]. Arch Gynakol. 1897;54:359–81.
Habiba M, Pluchino N, Petignat P, Bianchi P, Brosens IA, Benagiano G. Adenomyosis and endometrial cancer: literature review. Gynecol Obstet Investig. 2018;83:313–28.
Cullen T. Adenomyoma of the round ligament. Johns Hopkins Hosp Bull. 1896;7:112–3.
Pick L. Ein neuer Typus des voluminösen paroophoralenAdenomyoms – zugleich über eine bisher nicht bekannte Geschwulst Form der Gebärmutter (Adenomyoma psammopapillare) und über totale Verdoppelung des Eileiters [A new type of voluminous paroophoral adenomyomas – both on a previously unknown form of tumor of the uterus (adenomyoma psammopapillare) and a total doubling of the oviduct]. Archiv Gynäkol. 1897;54:117–206.
Rolly F. Über einen Fall von Adenomyoma uteri mit Uebergang in Carcinom und Metastasenbildung. [About a case of uterine adenomyoma with transition to carcinoma and metastasis]. Archiv Pathol Anat Physiol Klin Med. 1897;150:555–82.
Rolly F. Über einen Fall von Adenomyoma uteri etc. [About a case of adenomyoma of the uterus, etc.] Virchow’s Archiv Bd. 1897;150.
Ivanoff NS. Drüsiges cystenhaltiges Uterusfibromyom compliciert durch Sarcom und Carcinom (Adenofibromyoma cysticum sarcomatodes carcinomatosum) [Uterine fibromyoma containing glandular cyst complicated by sarcoma and carcinoma (Adenofibromyoma cysticum sarcomatodes carcinomatosum)]. Monatssch Gebursthilfe Gynäkol. 1898;7:295–300.
Cullen TS. Adenomyoma of the uterus. Philadelphia & London: WB Saunders; 1908.
Breus C. Über wahre epithel führende Cystenbildung in Uterusmyomen [Cyst formation in uterine fibroids leading to true epithelium]. Leipzig und Wien: Franz Deuticke; 1894.
Schröder O. Über cystofibroide des uterus speciell über einen fall von intra-uterinen cystofibroid [About cystofibroids of the uterus with special reference to a case of intra-uterine cystofibroid]. Strassburg: JH. ED. Heitz, Universitäts-Buchdrucker; 1873.
Heer O. Über fibrocysten des uterus [About fibrocysts of the uterus]. Druck von Zürcher und Furrer: Zurich; 1874.
Grosskopf C. (Thesis) Zur Kenntniss der cystomyome des uterus [On knowledge of cystomyomas of the uterus]. München; 1884.
Schuh F. Über die Erkenntniss der Pseudoplasmen [On the knowledge of pseudoplasms]. Vienna: LW. Siedel; 1851.
Wells T (Spencer). Diseases of the ovaries. Their diagnosis and treatment. London: J & A Churchill; 1872.
Bishop ES. Uterine fibromyomata: their pathology, diagnosis, and treatment. London: Rebman Ltd; 1901.
Gusserow A. Die neubildungen des uterus [The neoplasms of the uterus]. Stuttgart: Verlag von Ferdinand Enke; 1886.
Mayer R. Über eine adenomatose Wucherung der Serosa in einer Bauchnarde [On an adenomatous growth of the serosa around silk ligatures]. Zeitschr Gebursthilfe Gynäkol. 1903;49:32–41.
Orloff WN. Zür Genese der Uterusmyome [On the origin of uterine myomas]. Zeitschr Heilkunde. 1895;5:312–38.
Sitzenfrei A. Das übergreifen der adenomyome des uterus auf den mastdarm zugleichen beitrag zür klinik und histogenese des adenomyositis uteri et recti und des adenomyoma recti [The spreading of uterines adenomyomas to the rectum also contributes to the clinic and histogenesis of adenomyositis uteri and recti and of the adenomyoma recti]. Zeithschr Geburstshilfe Gynäkol. 1909;64:538–80.
Sitzenfrey A. Drei seltene geschwülste (epidermoid des antezervikalen Bindegewebes) [Three rare tumors (epidermoid of the antecervical connective tissue)]. Zeithschr Geburstshilfe Gynäkol. 1910;67:32–49.
Frankl O. Adenomyoma ligamenti ovarii. Arkiv Gynäkol. 1911;93:659–75.
Schikele G. Die lehre von den Mesonephrischen Geschülsten [The teaching of the Mesonephric Schools]. Zentralbl Allg Pathol Anat. 1904;15:261–302.
Pfannenstiel HJ. Über die Adenomyome des Genitalstranges [About the adenomyomas of the genital tract]. Verhandl Deutsch Gesellsch Gynäkol. 1897;7:195–9.
Habiba M, Brosens I, Zannoni GF, Benagiano G. Uncommon mixed endometrial-myometrial benign tumors of the reproductive tract: literature review. Gynecol Obstet Investig. 2019;19:1–27.
von Franqué O. Salpingitis nodosa isthmica und Adenomyoma tubae. Zeitschr Gebursthilfe Gynäkol. 1900;42:41–54.
Baldy JM, Longcope WT. Adenomyomata of the uterus. Am J Obstet Dis Women Child. 1903;45:78–92.
Kelly HA, Cullen TS. Myomata of the uterus. Philadelphia & London: WB Saunders; 1909.
von Lockstaedt P. Über Vorkommen und Bedeutung von Drüsenschläuchen in den Myomen des Uterus [About the occurrence and importance of glandular tubes in the fibroids of the uterus]. Monatssch. Geburtshilfe Gynäkol. 1898;7:188–232.
Hricak H, Alpers C, Crooks LE, Sheldon PE. Magnetic resonance imaging of the female pelvis: initial experience. Am J Roentgenol. 1983;141:1119–28.
Tamai K, Togashi K, Ito T, Morisawa N, Fujiwara T, Koyama T. MR imaging findings of adenomyosis: correlation with histopathologic features and diagnostic pitfalls. Radiographics. 2005;25:21–40.
Cullen TS. The distribution of adenomyomata containing uterine mucosa. Arch Surg. 1920;1:215–283 Reprinted from: Archives of Surgery 1920;1:215–83.
Frankl O. Adenomyosis uteri. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1925;10:680–4.
Bird CC, McElin TW, Manalo-Estrella P. The elusive adenomyosis of the uterus. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1972;112:583–93.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Benagiano, G., Lippi, D., Habiba, M. (2022). A History of Adenomyosis. In: Oral, E. (eds) Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97236-3_30
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97236-3_30
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-97235-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-97236-3
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)