Postmenopausal hormone therapy and mammographic breast density.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on mammographic density.


METHODS
In a prospective 1-year study, 103 postmenopausal women were randomized to receive tibolone 2.5 mg/die, continuous conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg/die plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 5mg/die or placebo. Mammograms were performed at baseline and after 12 months of treatment. Mammographic density was quantified according to the Wolfe classification.


RESULTS
After 12 months of HRT 16 of the 35 patients (45.1%) receiving continuous combined hormonal therapy showed an increase of breast density change in the Wolfe classification. After treatment with tibolone, an up grading in breast density, according to Wolfe's classification, was found in 2 of the 43 patients (2.3%). No changes were recorded in the 25 patients of the control group. The difference between the group treated with continuous combined hormonal therapy and the control group was highly significant (p<0.001). The difference in breast density between patients in treatment with tibolone and the control group was not statistically significant (p=0.34).


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous combination HRT may be more commonly associated with an increase of mammography density than tibolone treatment.
Marchesoni
D
D
Department of Surgical Sciences, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Udine, P.le Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100 Udine, Italy. diego.marchesoni@dsc.uniud.it
Driul
L
L
Ianni
A
A
Fabiani
G
G
Della Martina
M
M
Zuiani
C
C
Bazzocchi
M
M
D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004967:Estrogens; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D009652:Norpregnenes; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; C027385:tibolone