TAMOXIFEN AND THE UTERUS - THE HYSTEROSCOPIC APPROACH

All our hysteroscopic observations over the last 10 years strongly sup port that tamoxifen has an endometrial effect not seen with synthetic oestrogens. The development of small sized instruments, combined with an atraumatic insertion technique have made hysteroscopy a simple and safe procedure that can be performed on an outpatient base without any form of anaesthesia and with good patient compliance. In long-term ta moxifen users, hysteroscopy enables us to differentiate between atroph ic endometria with glandulocystic changes in the underlying stroma and endometrial polyps mainly of the glandulocystic type. The diagnostic value of direct visualisation with the advantage of being able to guid e endometrial biopsies is superior to any indirect technique Like tran svaginal ultrasonography (TVU). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.