title: Clinical and ultrasonographic changes of the breast after use of soy isoflavones.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phytoestrogens may be an alternative therapy in control of menopausal symptoms but their definite effects on breast tissue must be determined. Our study aimed to define the clinical and ultrasonographic changes of the breast after use of soy isoflavones in menopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Menopausal women with hot flashes were randomly grouped as cases and controls and cases received soy isoflavones for 12 weeks. Breast examination (BE) and ultrasonography (US) were done at 0, 6 and 12 weeks. Tenderness and nodularity on BE were graded 1-4 by breast surgeons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 30 women in the case and 26 in the control group. The mean age was 51.3 years and the mean age of menopause was 49.2 years. There was no change in the BE and US at 6 weeks in controls. In the case group, 10% had grade 1 tenderness and 13.3% grade 2 tenderness and grade 1 nodularity in BE accompanied with diffuse small cysts in US. At 12 weeks, there was no change in BE and US in the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no statistically significant difference in the BE of the 2 groups at 6 and 12 weeks (p value=0.36 and 0.41 for nodularity and tenderness respectively) and in the US results. Although the literature contains many facts concerning PEs and the breast, further prospective studies are needed to identify structural breast changes produced by PEs in order to identify the appropriate dosage and indications of use.
authors: Surgery Department, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. sadafalipour@yahoo.com
authors: Sadaf
authors: S
authors: Alipour
authors: Somayeh
authors: S
authors: Afshar
authors: Ashraf
authors: A
authors: Moini
authors: Marzieh Vahid
authors: MV
authors: Dastjerdi
authors: Azin
authors: A
authors: Saberi
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Bayani
authors: Bita
authors: B
authors: Eslami
authors: Ladan
authors: L
authors: Hosseini
mesh_terms: D019584:Hot Flashes; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008593:Menopause; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens