MULLERIAN ADENOSARCOMA OF THE UTERINE CORPUS ASSOCIATED WITH TAMOXIFEN THERAPY - A REPORT OF 6 CASES AND A REVIEW OF TAMOXIFEN-ASSOCIATED ENDOMETRIAL LESIONS

Six consultation cases of mullerian adenosarcoma of the uterus were en countered in women who were receiving adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for c arcinoma of the breast. To our knowledge, only one previous similar ca se has been reported. The women, who were 48-76 years of age, had rece ived tamoxifen for periods of 6 months to 4 years (mean 2.7 years) in five of the cases; the duration of tamoxifen therapy in the sixth case is unknown. All of the tumors were polypoid endometrial masses that s uperficially invaded the myometrium in two cases. The microscopic appe arance of the tumors was similar to that of previously described uteri ne mullerian adenosarcomas. These and other recent observations indica te that tamoxifen treatment may be complicated by uterine neoplasms ot her than endometrial adenocarcinoma. These findings also support previ ous observations that prolonged exogenous or endogenous hyperestrinism may lead to the development of mesenchymal and mixed epithelial-mesen chymal tumors of the uterus.