P137Ultrasound in the detection of endometrial pathologies in breast cancer patients with Tamoxifen treatment

Abstract

BackgroundThe tamoxifen (TAM) is an antiestrogen that is widely used as adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer patients with positive estrogen receptor proteins. It has been reported that the patients who have been treated for more than 12 months with TAM are at increased risk for endometrial carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between histological endometrial findings in breast cancer patients and transvaginal ultrasound.MethodMedical records and sonograms of 238 women treated for breast cancer with TAM were reviewed retrospectively. We included all patients using adjuvant therapy for breast cancer patients with TAM 20 mg of Tamoxifen. The exam was performed using a transvaginal probe 7.5 MHz transducer on a TOSHIBA 140 SSA and ACUSON XP‐4A ultrasonography set. Sonographic endometrial thickness was correlated to histologic findings and symptoms.ResultsA hundred‐55 (65.12%) had endometrial thickness of 8 mm or lower, measured by transvaginal ultrasound. We did not found any case of endometrial cancer, even with bleeding. From 51 patients with diagnostic hysteroscopy, the more frequent findings were: atrophic endometrium, endometrial polyps and insufficient material for histology exam.ConclusionsTransvaginal sonography is an useful tool for the follow‐up of tamoxifen treated patients used as trial for invasive diagnostic procedures.