The most common symptom of adenomyosis is abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding. Severe cramps are a frequent accompaniment when the adneomyosis exceeds 80% or more of the uterus.

There is usually globular enlargement in the uterus on pelvic examination and the uterus may be somewhat boggy if the adenomyosis is advanced. The posterior wall of the uterus is more commonly involved than the anterior.

Adenomyosis and particularly adenomyomas are commonly misdiagnosed as fibroids, because the symptoms are similar. The uterus is often enlarged, and ultrasound imaging often fails to distinguish the two conditions. Adenomyosis has a poorly defined border and is not “shelled out” as leiomyomas may be.

Adrenal glands are situated over the top of each kidney. Adrenal adenomas are non-cancerous tumors of the Adrenal gland. They arise from the outer layer of the gland, called the Adrenal cortex. The Adrenal cortex normally makes hormones that belong to the steroid family. If an Adrenal adenoma produces hormones, it is called 'functioning', though this term makes them sound healthy when in fact such adenomas often produce excessive amounts of steroid hormones. If an adenoma does not produce a hormone it is termed 'non-functioning'.

Adrenal adenomas are often found by chance during a scan of the body for an unrelated condition. However, all Adrenal masses (lumps) need careful evaluation to ascertain their nature, especially to see whether they are producing hormones. If an Adrenal adenoma that is producing hormones is not treated, it can have serious consequences.

The cause of Adrenal adenomas is unknown, but the current accepted theory is that they arise because of mutations (changes) in certain genes (which are not yet identified). Adrenal adenomas are more common in some inherited diseases, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type I, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and the Carney complex. Also, patients with genetic defects of the body systems that manufacture steroid hormones (eg congenital Adrenal hyperplasia), especially those whose condition is poorly controlled, may have a higher risk of Adrenal adenomas. However, most Adrenal adenomas are not linked with an inherited disease. The likelihood of developing an adenoma increases with age.

About 6 per cent of patients over 60 years of age have an Adrenal adenoma.

Most Adrenal adenomas are discovered by chance when an abdominal computed-tomography (CT) or magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) scan is done for unrelated symptoms.

Others posibilities

More rarely, a mass in the Adrenal gland is cancer that has spread from another part of the body, usually the lung or bowel (ie 'metastatic' cancer). Generally, the origin of the cancer is clear from the clinical examination or from simple tests such as a chest X-ray. In addition, the CT or MRI appearance of metastatic cancer in the Adrenal gland can be distinguished from a benign Adrenal adenoma by use of specialised radiology. An Adrenal mass might also be a cancer of the Adrenal cortex (adrenocortical carcinoma). Although they are very rare, these cancers are often large and can produce a combination of hormones.

Adrenal masses can also arise from the inner part of the Adrenal gland, called the Adrenal medulla, which is part of the nervous system and produces the hormones Adrenaline and norAdrenaline. Tumours of the Adrenal medulla are called phaeochromocytomas, and they also can be distinguished from adenomas by specialised scanning techniques as well as by blood and urine tests for Adrenaline and nor-Adrenaline.