J Menopausal Med.  2018 Aug;24(2):81-86. 10.6118/jmm.2018.24.2.81.

Comparative Study on Hysteroscopic and Histologic Examinations of the Endometrium in Postmenopausal Women Taking Tamoxifen

• Jung H
• Jung JK
• Kim SB
• Cho EA
• Um MJ

• KMID: 2419615
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6118/jmm.2018.24.2.81

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the histologic effects of tamoxifen on the endometrium using hysteroscopy in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.
METHODS
The study included 46 postmenopausal patients who were referred from another clinic due to thickening or bleeding of the endometrium after taking tamoxifen for breast cancer. All patients underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) and hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy with a 5-mm, continuous-flow, operating hysteroscope.
RESULTS
The incidence of malignancy was high (20%) in cases of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) after taking tamoxifen. However, in the non-AUB group with thick endometrium after taking tamoxifen, the incidence of adenocarcinoma was 3.2%.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings confirm the estrogen-like effect of tamoxifen on the endometrium. Endometrial evaluation with TVS suggests further diagnostic procedures; moreover, histologic examination is necessary under hysteroscopy, especially in cases of endometrial bleeding after taking tamoxifen.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Endometrium; Hysteroscopy; Postmenopause; Tamoxifen

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Biopsy
Breast Neoplasms
Endometrium*
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hysteroscopes
Hysteroscopy
Incidence
Postmenopause
Tamoxifen*
Uterine Hemorrhage
Tamoxifen

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