Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2018 Sep;61(5):615-620. 10.5468/ogs.2018.61.5.615.

The effect of tamoxifen therapy on the endometrium and ovarian cyst formation in patients with breast cancer

• Lee S
• Kim YH
• Kim SC
• Joo JK
• Seo DS
• Kim KH
• Lee KS

• KMID: 2426027
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2018.61.5.615

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on female reproductive organs in women with breast cancer.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 309 women with breast cancer who were currently receiving tamoxifen and undergoing regular gynecological examination.
RESULTS
We evaluated 92 pre- and 217 postmenopausal women. The prevalence of endometrial thickening was 12% in the pre- and 10.6% in the postmenopausal group. An endometrial biopsy was performed in 43 women and confirmed endometrial cancer in 1, endometrial polyps in 14, and endometrial hyperplasia in 4 women. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed 25 cases of newly developed ovarian cysts. Most ovarian cysts had disappeared during follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Tamoxifen use in women with breast cancer causes few complications and is considered safe for female reproductive organs in case of regular gynecological examination.

Keyword

Tamoxifen; Endometrium; Breast neoplasms; Ovary

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial Neoplasms
Endometrium*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Gynecological Examination
Humans
Medical Records
Ovarian Cysts*
Ovary
Polyps
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Tamoxifen*
Ultrasonography
Tamoxifen