Postablative risk of endometrial carcinoma in New Zealand white rabbits given high-dose estrogen

OBJECTIVE: To follow a population at high risk for endometrial carcinoma af ter endometrial ablation, to determine if ablation alters the incidence or detection of endometrial pathology. STUDY DESIGN: The animal model included 33 New Zealand white rabbits. Of th is cohort, 17 underwent surgical ablation of the endometrium via laparotomy , while 16 served as controls. Vaginal bleeding was assessed with monthly c otton swab examinations as well as daily observation of the subjects. All a nimals received unopposed estrogen for 18 months prior to necropsy. RESULTS: No animal in either arm of the study demonstrated vaginal bleeding . Two rabbits from the ablation group and three controls showed histologic evidence of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or adenocarcinoma (P >.20). On e additional animal from each group had hyperplasia without atypia. CONCLUSION: This animal model suggests that endometrial ablation does not d ecrease the risk of endometrial carcinoma in patients at high risk of devel oping endometrial pathology. Detection of hyperplasia or carcinoma in such a population may prove difficult due to the absence of traditional signs of endometrial abnormalities.