title: Modification of ultrasonographically measured endometrial thickness after discontinuation of adjuvant therapy with tamoxifen in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate endometrial changes after five years of tamoxifen treatment by measuring endometrial thickness with transvaginal ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five asymptomatic postmenopausal women who had assumed tamoxifen, 20 mg daily, for five years were controlled six months after discontinuation of the therapy. Of these 42 were followed-up at 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using the analysis of variance for repeated measures and the Anova test; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant reduction in endometrial thickness at six months (p = 0.0046) and at 12 months (p = 0.0003) but not between six and 12 months (p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A statistically significant reduction in endometrial thickness after discontinuation of tamoxifen therapy was found. This can probably be attributed to the cessation of the estrogenic side-effects of tamoxifen therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M Valenzano
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Menada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ragni
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen