[Changes in the sonographic appearance of the endometrium after different premenopausal tamoxifen therapies].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of different schemes of premenopausal tamoxifen therapy on the endometrium.


METHODS
Totally 109 normal premenopausal women positive for high-risk factors of breast cancer were divided into two groups, namely periodic and consecutive tamoxifen treatment groups. Endometrial thickness as examined by vaginal sonography was assessed in relation to duration of tamoxifen use and time from discontinuation of the drug.


RESULTS
After one year of tamoxifen use, the mean endometrial thickness in periodic treatment group was 6.5-/+1.4 mm, and 10.2-/+2.0 mm in consecutive treatment group. Endometrial thickness increased with the duration of tamoxifen use at the rate of 0.51 mm/year in the periodic treatment group, and 0.73 mm/year in consecutive treatment group. After discontinuation of tamoxifen, the endometrial thickness in the former group decreased by 1.29 mm/year, and by 1.33 mm/year in the latter.


CONCLUSIONS
Endometrial hyperplasia is obviously milder in premenopausal women receiving periodic tamoxifen treatment who are at risk for breast cancer than that in women with consecutive treatment. After discontinuation of the drug, the endometrial thickness decreases at a roughly equal slow rate in the two groups.
Zhou
Li-Xue
LX
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Zhu
Jun
J
Ding
Hong
H
Jia
Cai-Xia
CX
Xue
Shu-Juan
SJ
Pan
Rui-Ke
RK
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017697:Premenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D012306:Risk; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013629:Tamoxifen