Results of curettage for postmenopausal vaginal bleeding in women treated with tamoxifen and megestrol acetate for progressive metastatic breast carcinoma.
Tamoxifen and megestrol acetate are used as a hormonal treatment for metastatic breast carcinoma. It is suggested that the use of tamoxifen may induce endometrial cancer. In this article we describe nine patients under hormonal treatment for metastatic breast cancer with, firstly, tamoxifen and, later, megestrol acetate. These nine patients all had symptoms of postmenopausal vaginal blood loss during therapy with megestrol acetate, an indication to perform a diagnostic dilatation and curettage. By histopathological examination the curettings showed a decidualized stroma with an infiltration of lymphocytes, some plasma cells and many eosinophils. In none of the patients was atypical hyperplasia or malignancy found. The dilatation and curettage had also a therapeutic effect, since only one of the patients still had complaints, while the other eight did not complain of postmenopausal bleeding again. We review the literature and discuss the value of a diagnostic dilatation and curettage.
Logmans
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Department of Oncologic Gynecology, Dr. Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mous
H V
HV
Bontenbal
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M
Beerman
H
H
van Lent
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M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008535:Megestrol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*
D013629:Tamoxifen; D008535:Megestrol