Analysis of factors associated with endometrial diseases in postoperative breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen therapy

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the pathological change of endometrium and the related factors in postoperative breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen therapy. Methods: Eighty-two postoperative breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen therapy, who were admitted to gynecologic ward of Hebei Medical University Forth Hospital from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 due to their gynecologic problems, were collected, and their clinicopathological information were anaylzed retrospectively. Results: Of 82 patients, 74 were followed-up, 4 were lost, and 4 were dead. The types of endometrial pathology of patients receiving tamoxifen included endometrial polypoid hyperplasia (n = 16, 21.6%), endometrial polyps (n = 14, 18.9%), adenomyoma (n = 11, 14.9%), atypical hyperplasia (n = 4, 5.4%) and endometrial carcinoma (n = 9, 12.2%). The related factors analysis revealed that endometrial diseases were positively associated with menopause, which meant that the postmenopausal patients were more likely to suffer from endometrial cancer. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the duration of tamoxifen use and endometrial cancer, especially for the patients receiving tamoxifen for 5 years or more. The endometrial thickness by B-ultrasonic examination was also positively correlated with endometrial cancer. Conclusion: Tamoxifen therapy in postoperative breast cancer patients can lead to endometrial diseases. Postmenopausal patients and the patients receiving tamoxifen for 5 years or more are more likely to develop endometrial cancer. Combination of B-ultrasonic examination and hysteroscopy is an effective way to find endometrial lesions induced by tamoxifen therapy. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2013.07.010