title: The effect of tamoxifen on cervical squamous maturation in Papanicolaou stained cervical smears of post-menopausal women.
abstract: Using cervical smears obtained as part of routine gynaecological examinations, a retrospective study of the effects of the drug tamoxifen on squamous epithelial maturation of the cervix of post-menopausal women being treated for advanced breast cancer was made. The degree of squamous epithelial maturation was quantitated by using the Maturation Index and the Maturation Value. Although tamoxifen is a synthetic, non-steroidal compound classified as anti-oestrogenic, the findings indicate that this drug commonly produces a level of squamous maturation indicative of oestrogenic stimulation in Papanicolaou stained cervical smears from post-menopausal patients receiving this drug. Knowledge of the oestrogenic effect of tamoxifen in the cervix can obviate clinical concern about endometrial carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Eells
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Alpern
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D013629:Tamoxifen