Adenomyosis and endometriosis: common features

The purpose — to summarize the results of molecular genetic studies of adenomyosis and endometriosis. Material and methods. Review of publications based on search results in the electronic resources PubMed, Elibrary, EMBASE and Google Scholar. Results. Marked differences between endometriosis and adenomyosis in pathogenesis, lesion localisation and clinical features have led to the recognition of adenomyosis as a separate clinical entity. In the new International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision, adenomyosis was removed from the section «Endometriosis» (GA10) and presented as a separate disease «Adenomyosis». Identical KRAS mutations in epithelial cells in endometriosis, adenomyosis and combined endometriosis suggest that adenomyosis and endometriosis are oligoclonal lesions arising from populations of cells of the basal layer of the endometrium carrying a specific driver mutation. Medication strategies that block ovarian steroidogenesis, as well as local estrogen synthesis, are a long-term treatment option for these chronic diseases. Conclusion. The results of molecular genetic studies indicate that endometriosis and adenomyosis are related conditions with a common molecular etiology.