Mammographic density changes during different postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the degree of change in mammographic breast densities during different types of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies.


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
Ege University Hospital.


METHODS
The mammographies of 216 women on various postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies were evaluated.


METHODS
Estrogen alone (n = 76) or estrogen in cyclic (n = 44) or continuous (n = 61) combination with progestin or tibolone-only (n = 35) replacement therapies were used. Mammographic density was quantified according to the Wolfe classification in patients with different hormone replacement regimens.


METHODS
Mammographic density changes were interpreted.


RESULTS
An increase in mammographic density was much more common among women receiving continuous combination hormone replacement therapy 31.1% (19 of 61) than among those receiving estrogen-only 3.9% (3 of 76) treatment. There were no significant mammographic breast density changes among women receiving cyclic continuous combination hormone replacement therapy or tibolone-only treatment. The increase in density was apparent already at first visit after the start of hormone replacement therapy. In continuous combined postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy with norethisterone acetate, the increase in mammographic density was 34.1% (15 of 44), followed by medroxyprogesterone acetate 23.5% (4 of 17).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that mammographic breast density changes related to postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy are dependent on the selected hormone regimen. The continuous administration of the progestin component of the combined-hormone replacement therapy seems to effect the breast density most.
Sendağ
F
F
University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Azmir, Turkey. sendag@med.ege.edu.tr
Coşan Terek
M
M
Ozşener
S
S
Oztekin
K
K
Bilgin
O
O
Bilgen
I
I
Memiş
A
A
D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004964:Estriol; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009652:Norpregnenes; D017698:Postmenopause; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens; D009652:Norpregnenes; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; C103294:estradiol valerate, cyproterone acetate drug combination; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D004958:Estradiol; C032040:Trisequens; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D004964:Estriol; C027385:tibolone; D009640:Norethindrone