Surveillance for endometrial cancer in women on tamoxifen: the role of liquid-based endometrial cytology - cytohistological correlation in a population of 168 women.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of liquid-based cytology for endometrial surveillance in patients receiving tamoxifen.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight women scheduled for hysteroscopy were enrolled in the study. The women sequentially underwent hysteroscopy, endometrial cytology and biopsy.

Results: Endometrial biopsy only was inadequate in 112 (67%) patients, both endometrial biopsy and cytology were inadequate in 19 (11%) patients, endometrial cytology only was inadequate in 4 (2%) patients, and both endometrial biopsy and cytology were adequate in 33 (20%) patients. Overall, endometrial biopsy was inadequate in 131 (78%) patients and endometrial cytology in 23 (14%) patients. Endometrial cytology provided sufficient material for diagnosis more often than endometrial biopsy (p < 0.05). In the series of 33 patients (20%) in whom both endometrial cytology and biopsy were adequate, there was a 100% correlation between the endometrial cytology and biopsy results.

Conclusions: For the first time, this study shows the diagnostic efficacy of liquid-based endometrial cytology in the follow-up of women receiving tamoxifen. It could be applied solely or in conjunction with ultrasonography.