Endometrial brush cytology in the surveillance of post-menopausal patients under tamoxifen: a prospective longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cytological sampling of endometrium using Endobrush (Lab CCD, Paris, France) in the surveillance of tamoxifen-treated patients.


METHODS
Between February 1995 and October 1997, 687 tamoxifen-treated patients had serial ultrasound screening for endometrial pathology. In case of endometrial double layer thickness of more than 8mm, a cytological examination of endometrium was attempted followed by hysteroscopy and curettage.


RESULTS
One hundred and eighty-nine patients had abnormal endometrial ultrasound findings. Cytological smear was not obtained in 39 patients because of cervical stenosis or pain in 33 and 6 cases, respectively. One hundred and fifty patients had cytological endometrial sampling followed by hysteroscopy and curettage. Cytological and histological findings correlated well in 145 cases (141 benign lesions and 4 endometrial cancers). There were five false positive (four atypia and one cancer). All patients remained free of endometrial cancer at 5 years follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
In tamoxifen-treated patients, endometrial cytology was reliable for detection of endometrial pathology, and was well accepted by the patients.
Mathelin
Carole
C
Service de Gynécologie-obstétrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg Cedex, France. Mathelin@igbmc.u-strasbg.fr
Youssef
Cherif
C
Annane
Kadour
K
Brettes
Jean-Philippe
JP
Bellocq
Jean-Pierre
JP
Walter
Paul
P
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen