Open AccessSignificance of endovaginal ultrasonography in assessing tamoxifen‐associated changes of the endometrium
Author(s) -
STRAUSS HANSGEORG,
WOLTERS MATTHIAS,
METHFESSEL GISELA,
BUCHMANN JUERGEN,
KOELBL HEINZ
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0412.2000.079008697.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endometrium , hysteroscopy , endometrial polyp , tamoxifen , endometrial hyperplasia , gynecology , histopathology , endometrial cancer , curettage , ultrasound , prospective cohort study , hyperplasia , breast cancer , radiology , cancer , obstetrics , pathology
Background. A prospective study was conducted investigating the value of endovaginal ultrasound in the assessment of tamoxifen‐associated changes of the endometrium in patients with breast cancer. Methods. Seventy postmenopausal patients with breast cancer treated with anti‐estrogens for at least 6 months were entered. Those with bleeding disorders and/or an endometrial thickness of ≥10 mm found on ultrasonography underwent hysteroscopy and dilatation and curettage (D&C) for further histological evaluation. In 22 patients, positive ultrasound findings could be compared with histopathology. Results. 82% of the 22 patients with positive sonographic findings had a glandular‐cystic hyperplasia or a glandular‐cystic polyp. No adenomatous hyperplasia or endometrial cancer was observed in our series. Conclusion. Vaginal ultrasound represents a useful diagnostic tool to detect tamoxifen‐associated changes of the endometrium. A threshold of 10 mm endometrial thickness appears suitable to identify endometrial abnormalities while reducing the rate of false‐positive findings to an acceptable level. However, the role of vaginal ultrasound in screening for endometrial cancer or premalignant lesions remains uncertain.