Ultrasonography of the endometrium and endometrial pathology under tamoxifen treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The estrogenic effects of tamoxifen on the endometrium and the vaginal epithelium are evaluated.


METHODS
211 postmenopausal women were examined (tamoxifen group: 176 estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer patients; control group I: 35 estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer patients; control group II: 50 women without breast cancer taking no hormones). We determined the endometrial thickness and the maturation index (MI). Person's chi-square-test and the t-test for independent samples were used.


RESULTS
In the tamoxifen group, the mean endometrial thickness and the MI were significantly higher (p<0.0001) than in the control groups. No evidence of correlation in duration of tamoxifen intake and endometrial thickness was found (Pearson's correlation coefficient: 0.4773; p=0.0001). The maturation index significantly (p<0.0001) increased under tamoxifen therapy. There was no correlation in the maturation index and endometrial thickness (Pearson's correlation coefficient: 0.1649; p=0.169). The histological clarification (N=47; endometrial thickness greater than 8 mm) revealed 3 neoplasms, 9 endometrial polyps, 2 glandular-cystic hyperplasias and in 32 cases atrophic endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
An apparent increase of endometrial thickness and the maturation of the vaginal epithelium caused by the estrogenic effect of tamoxifen was demonstrated.
Friedrich
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Villena-Heinsen
C
C
Mink
D
D
Endres
V
V
Reitnauer
K
K
Schmidt
W
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012016:Reference Values; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen