Histopathologic findings in thickened endometria, as measured by ultrasound in asymptomatic, postmenopausal breast cancer patients on various adjuvant treatment including tamoxifen.
Pallents with breast cancer exhibit an increased risk of developing cancer from other organs, a risk that might increase due to tamoxifen treatment. This drug has been found to cause activation of oestrogen receptors, leading to oestrogenic effects on the postmenopausal endometrium. We report follow-up of 94 patients with breast cancer without initial symptoms aged more than 50 years at the time of operation. They were followed-up with vaginal ultrasound at regular intervals and endometrial sampling was performed according to treatment after surgery: tamoxifen, tamoxifen in combination with other regimes and without tamoxifen treatment. A large proportion were investigated prior to treatment. We identified endometrial carcinoma, metastasis of breast carcinoma and histopathological changes in 17/67 (25%) of the patients treated with tamoxifen compared to 1/32 in those not treated with tamoxifen.
Willén
R
R
Department of Obstet/Gynecol, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
Lindahl
B
B
Andolf
E
E
Ingvar
C
C
Liedman
R
R
Ranstam
J
J
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013629:Tamoxifen