[Endometrial cancers arising in polyps associated with tamoxifen use].
OBJECTIVE
To review and describe the anatomoclinical cases of the endometrial cancers arising on polyps during a hormonotherapy by tamoxifen for breast cancer.


METHODS
In the surgical inventory 1990-2002 of the benign or malignant uterine lesions investigated by hysteroscopy with dilatation & curettage (D&C) and/or hysterectomy, 108 single or multiple endometrial polyps were encountered and histologically analyzed.


RESULTS
A malignant transformation of polyp was found in 5 instances, meaning a rate of 4.6% i.e. 5/108: 4 cases of adenocarcinoma, 1 case of sarcoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The existence of endometrial polyps - symptomatic or not - does not seem compatible with the prolonged use of tamoxifen treatment owing the estrogen agonist potential effects of tamoxifen and its well-known hyperplastic and carcinogenic properties for the endometrium. The increased risk of endometrial cancer developing in polyps in this iatrogenic context is estimated between 2.5% and 10% in the literature.
Mbatsogo
B Anama
BA
Service de chirurgie, centre de lutte contre le cancer (CLCC) Jean-Perrin, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Le Bouëdec
G
G
Michy
T
T
Bourdel
N
N
Fouilloux
G
G
Dauplat
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen