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Endometrial histologic changes in post‐menopausal breast cancer patients using tamoxifen
Author(s) -
Marchesoni D.,
Driul L.,
Fabiani G.,
Di Loreto C.,
Cataldi P.,
Mozzanega B.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(01)00476-3
Subject(s) - medicine , hysteroscopy , tamoxifen , endometrium , breast cancer , gynecology , endometrial cancer , asymptomatic , atypical hyperplasia , carcinoma , vaginal bleeding , uterine cavity , cancer , obstetrics , uterus , surgery , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on the endometrium of post‐menopausal women with breast cancer and to examine the relationship between ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and histopathologic changes. Method : Included in this longitudinal study were 303 post‐menopausal women taking 20 mg daily of tamoxifen. Hysteroscopy was performed in 83 patients with an endometrial thickness of only ≥5 mm and 34 with vaginal bleeding also. Forty‐five asymptomatic patients (control group) underwent hysteroscopies. Result : The most frequent outcome in patients with endometrial thickness of only ≥5 mm was an atrophic endometrium in an empty cavity (79.5%) whereas simple hyperplasia (35.3%) was found in women with vaginal bleeding. Carcinoma was diagnosed in seven cases (5.9%). In the control group, no endometrial cancer was found. Conclusion : This study suggests that patients with a thickness >5 mm should be offered a whole hysteroscopic evaluation, whenever bleeding is reported.