Endometrial pathology at dilatation and curettage in breast cancer patients: comparison of tamoxifen users and nonusers.

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.