title: Indication for histological examination of endometrium in breast carcinoma patients receiving tamoxifen therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of tamoxifen on the uterine endometrium and define the indications for histological examination of endometrium on the thickness of uterine endometrium and on the duration of tamoxifen therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The endometrial thickness was measured on the transvaginal ultrasonogram in 40 postmenopausal breast carcinoma patients receiving tamoxifen (tamoxifen group), and control group. Endometrial histological examination was carried out. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometrial thickness in the tamoxifen group was 11.2 +/- 5.1 mm, and that of the control group was 3.8 +/- 2.1 mm. The incidence of endometrial abnormalities in the tamoxifen group was greater than that in control group. The cut off values derived from the ROC curve analysis were 9 mm for endometrial thickness, and 24 months for duration of tamoxifen therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The histological examination of endometrium should be carried out if the endometrial thickness is more than 9 mm, or the duration of tamoxifen therapy is more than 24 months even if the patients do not have any symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hakuai Hospital, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katagiri
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamazoe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D017698:Postmenopause; D012372:ROC Curve; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen