Endometrial pathology at dilatation and curettage in breast cancer patients: Comparison of tamoxifen users and nonusers Journal Article


Authors: Gibson, L. E.; Barakat, R. R.; Venkatraman, E. S.; Hoskins, W. J.
Article Title: Endometrial pathology at dilatation and curettage in breast cancer patients: Comparison of tamoxifen users and nonusers
Abstract: PURPOSE: We conducted this retrospective study to determine the endometrial pathologic findings at the time of dilatation and curettage in breast cancer patients on tamoxifen and compare these findings with those from a similar group of patients not receiving tamoxifen. METHODS: The pathologic findings from endometrial curettings in all breast cancer patients who underwent a dilatation and curettage between January 1986 and June 1993 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Medical records and office charts were reviewed to determine the patient age, history, and duration of tamoxifen use, and the presence of symptoms (vaginal spotting or bleeding). RESULTS: Two hundred and forty breast cancer patients were identified. Seventy-five patients (31%) were taking tamoxifen (mean duration, 26 months) at the time of dilatation and curettage. Fifty-three of these patients were symptomatic. Twenty-two of the patients taking tamoxifen were asymptomatic. One hundred and sixty-five patients (69%) were not taking tamoxifen. Of these patients, 109 were symptomatic and 56 were asymptomatic. In both symptomatic and asymptomatic breast cancer patients, there was no difference in the incidence of endometrial polyps, hyperplasia, or adenocarcinoma when comparing tamoxifen users with nonusers. CONCLUSION: Short-term tamoxifen use in breast cancer patients was not found to alter the endometrial pathologic findings at the time of dilatation and curettage.
Keywords: middle aged; retrospective studies; adenocarcinoma; drug effect; pathology; breast neoplasms; retrospective study; chemically induced disorder; breast tumor; breast carcinoma; hyperplasia; tamoxifen; antineoplastic agents, hormonal; antineoplastic hormone agonists and antagonists; polyp; polyps; curettage; endometrium; dilatation and curettage; humans; human; female; article; endometrial neoplasm
Journal Title: The Cancer Journal from Scientific American
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1081-4442
Publisher: Scientific American  
Date Published: 1996-01-01
Start Page: 35
End Page: 38
Language: English
PUBMED: 9166496
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 22 November 2017 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Venkatraman Ennapadam Seshan
    382 Seshan
  2. William Hoskins
    255 Hoskins
  3. Richard R Barakat
    629 Barakat