Risk factors of endometrial polyps resected from postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen

BACKGROUND. Endometrial polyps are the most common endometrial. pathology d escribed in association with postmenopausal tamoxifen exposure. Up to 3% of these polyps may show malignant changes. However, to the authors' knowledg e no one has described any risk factor for the development of this patholog y in postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen. OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether risk factors can be identified for the development of endometrial polyps in postmenopau sal patients with breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen. METHODS. The authors reviewed the medical records of 54 postmenopausal pati ents with breast carcinoma in whom endometrial polyps were resected by hyst eroscopy after at least 6 months of tamoxifen treatment (Group I). Demograp hic characteristics, health habits, risk factors for endometrial carcinoma, and clinical factors related to the primary breast disease were examined. The results were compared with those obtained from 210 similar patients in whom hysteroscopy did not reveal any endometrial pathology (Group II). RESULTS. Age at menopause was significantly older, duration of breast disea se was significantly longer, and body weight was significantly heavier amon g Group I patients compared with Group II patients (P = 0.0162, P = 0.0026, and P = 0.0364, respectively). Endometrial thickness, measured by transvag inal ultrasonography, was significantly thicker in Group I patients (16.3 /- 7.2 mm) compared with that detected in Group II patients (11.8 +/- 6.3; P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS. Various factors, such as older age at menopause, longer durati on of breast disease, heavier weight, and thicker endometrium may contribut e to the prediction of increased risk of development of endometrial polyps in postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen. (C ) 2001 American Cancer Society.