Dr Elaine Brown,
This is a follow up question to my previous post you answered( text included below):
As advised by you, I got my mother's endometrial biopsy done. ( she is on
tamoxifenTamoxifen
Tamoxifen citrate for 2yrs and her ultrasound showed thickened endometrium 20mm with
cysticAcne
Acne, cystic on the back
Acne, cystic on the chest
Acne, cystic on the face
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis - resources
Fibrocystic breast disease
Neonatal cystic fibrosis screening
Pancreatic, cystic adenoma - ct scan
Polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic ovary disease changes.
Biopsy report:
SCANTY FRAGMENTS OF
BASALBasal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma - close-up
Basal cell carcinoma - face
Basal cell carcinoma - nose
Basal ganglia dysfunction
Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - behind ear
Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - nose
Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - pigmented
Skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma - spreading TYPE
BENIGNBenign ear cyst or tumor
Benign positional vertigo ENDOMETRIAL GLANDS ENMESHED IN BLOOD
CLOTSBlood clots.
NO EVIDENCE OF
MALIGNANCYHyperpigmentation w/malignancy
Malignancy.
My question is ;
Is this report possibly consistent with ultrasound changes? Does the biopsy need to be repeated/reviewed?
thanks
--------------------------------------------
My mother, 70 is on tamoxifen 20 mg a day for the last 2 years for the treatment of early ca breast.
Her one year follow up ultrasonogram in 2008 was normal.
Her two year follow up ultrasonogram in 2009 showed the following;
Thickened endometrium 20mm with cystic changes.
Question; Does this require further evaluation/treatment?
Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Elaine Brown, MD
Mar 25, 2009 02:30PM
To: peace4
HI!
If your mother came to see me, I would recommend an endometrial biopsy. This is a fairly simple straightforward office procedure, and the reason to do it is to rule out endometrial cancer. There is an eightfold increase in the risk of endometrial cancer in women who are on tamoxifen. If endometrial cancer is ruled out, she could continue with the tamoxifen. I would be concerned though given the findings on ultrasound that she might have hyperplasia--(pre-cancerous changes). If so one option for treatment would be insertion of a Mirena IUD to release progesterone locally to the uterine lining.
Another option would be to switch her to one of the aromatase inhibitors such as Arimidex. Obviously, her gyn and her oncologist should agree on the course of action.
I would NOT recommend ignoring the ultrasound findings though--early endometrial cancer is easily curable.
Good luck!
Dr B