ABSTRACT

Objective:

To evaluate the histopatologic results of endometrial samples taken from patients with known breast cancer. A correlation between different pathologic results and ultrasonographically measured endometrial stripe thickness was sought

Methods:

Patients with breast cancer applying to Gazi University Hospital and had undergone endometrial sampling for various indications were included and their histopatological results were retrospectively analyzed.patients were categorized into subgroups according to use of tamoxifen, being symptomatic or not (i.e.abnormal bleeding) and their menopausal status. In all cases the patients' endometrial thickness was ultrasonographically measured and noted prior sampling

Results:

Out of 106 patients with prior diagnosis of breast cancer, 71.7% were receiving tamoxifen adjuvant therapy at the time of sampling.There was unsignificant difference between histopathological results and endometrial thickness between patients using tamoxifen and those not. Despite low sensitivity and specificity a cut-off endometrial thickness value of 9.45mm was reached in tamoxifen users. The difference between endometrial thickness and histopathological results in the premenopausal and postmenopausal groups was not significant

Conclusion:

Given that a paitent with breast cancer has no other risk factors for endometrial cancer, they should be followed up on a routine annual basis and be informed to apply to a hospital in the event of abnormal uterine bleeding. In such a case endometrial sampling should be undertaken.Since endometrial thickness has a low sensitivity in predicting negative histopathological results, it should not be used the sole indication for endometrial sampling. physicians should be familiar with endometrial pathologies coinciding breast cancer and should not allow extended use of tamoxifen for over 5 years