Endometrial changes in postmenopausal women treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether risk factors, other than tamoxifen, can be identified for the development of endometrial pathologies in postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Oncology Clinic, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.


METHODS
77 asymptomatic postmenopausal women, treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer. Of these, 55 had no endometrial tissue and 22 had endometrial tissue obtained by biopsy.


METHODS
Demographic characteristics, health habits, risk factors, vaginal ultrasonographic evaluations of endometrial thickness and texture, and histologic evaluations of endometrial biopsies.


RESULTS
Overall, there was a high rate (29%) of endometrial pathological change among the 77 asymptomatic postmenopausal women. There were no significant statistical differences in the features tested between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
It is impossible to predict which postmenopausal women will develop pathological endometrial changes after treatment with tamoxifen and thus a routine periodic endometrial sampling-follow up is suggested for all postmenopausal women being treated with this agent.
Cohen
I
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sapir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Rosen
D J
DJ
Shapira
J
J
Cordoba
M
M
Gilboa
S
S
Altaras
M M
MM
Yigael
D
D
Beyth
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D013629:Tamoxifen