Prediction of endometrial pathology by measuring endometrial thickness with TVS in women with breast cancer on tamoxifen

Background: Tamoxifen is given in women with breast cancer who underwent surgery and is receptor positive. As Tamoxifen increases the risk of endometrial carcinoma to 2% a screening technique such as transvaginal sonography is essential to identify women at risk of endometrial cancer. Aim: To identify endometrial pathology in women using tamoxifen after surgery for breast cancer. Material and methods: Fifty women on tamoxifen for breast cancer attending the department of radiotherapy were screened once in six months by history taking, clinical examination and measuring endometrial thickness with TVS. Endometrial biopsy for histology was performed in women with endometrial thickness more than 11 mm. Observation: Endometrial biopsy was performed in ten women who were found to have endometrial thickness > 11 mm. Out of ten, four had normal endometrium, three had simple hyperplasia one was found to have complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypia and two were reported to have inadequate endometrium. Conclusion: Routine screening with TVS is not a cost effective measure as tamoxifen induces subepithelial stromal hypertrophy resulting in minimal tissue yield on endometrial biopsy. Therefore bleeding should remain the primary trigger for investigation of women on tamoxifen.