Indication for histological examination of endometrium in breast carcinoma patients receiving tamoxifen therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of tamoxifen on the uterine endometrium and define the indications for histological examination of endometrium on the thickness of uterine endometrium and on the duration of tamoxifen therapy.

METHODS

The endometrial thickness was measured on the transvaginal ultrasonogram in 40 postmenopausal breast carcinoma patients receiving tamoxifen (tamoxifen group), and control group. Endometrial histological examination was carried out. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out.

RESULTS

Endometrial thickness in the tamoxifen group was 11.2 +/- 5.1 mm, and that of the control group was 3.8 +/- 2.1 mm. The incidence of endometrial abnormalities in the tamoxifen group was greater than that in control group. The cut off values derived from the ROC curve analysis were 9 mm for endometrial thickness, and 24 months for duration of tamoxifen therapy.

CONCLUSION

The histological examination of endometrium should be carried out if the endometrial thickness is more than 9 mm, or the duration of tamoxifen therapy is more than 24 months even if the patients do not have any symptoms.