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Malignant transformation of adenomyosis: literature review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

To review and analyze risk factors and the pathology of malignant transformation of adenomyosis.

Methods

In this paper, the relevant research on current risks factors and the pathology of malignant transformation of adenomyosis was reviewed and analyzed by metaanalysis. All studies included were retrieved from the PUBMED.

Results

Analysis of existing studies revealed that most malignant transformation of adenomyosis occurs in elderly or postmenopausal patients. Adenomyosis with uterine leiomyoma or benign endometrial hyperplasia and other benign diseases appears to be more prone to malignancy, but there is currently no strong evidence to confirm this finding.

Conclusions

At present, the malignant transformation of adenomyosis is thought to be due to its endometrial epithelium transition to monolayer tumor cells before malignant transformation, which eventually develops to varying degrees of cancer. However, the specific molecular mechanism of adenomyosis is not yet clear. Because of its low incidence of malignant transformation, lack of large-sample, multi-center clinical trials, and large heterogeneity of the existing research, the evidence based on the high-risk factors of malignant transformation of adenomyosis is weak.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China

    Hang Yuan & Shiqian Zhang

Authors
  1. Hang Yuan
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  2. Shiqian Zhang
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HY Data Collection, Manuscript writing. SZ Data Collection, Manuscript writing

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shiqian Zhang.

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Conflict of interest

Hang Yuan declares that she has no conflict of interest. Shiqian Zhang declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Cite this article

Yuan, H., Zhang, S. Malignant transformation of adenomyosis: literature review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 299, 47–53 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4991-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4991-2

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