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Tamoxifen causes thick endometrium stripe?

Page last modified on: September 5, 2008

Question from Mary: I have been told from a recent pelvic ultrasound that I have a thick endometrium stripe. I was told that this is normal in pre-menopausal women but I was asked to do a follow-up ultrasound in 6 weeks. Would it be normal for the stripe to be caused by menopause or possibly tamoxifen, which I've been on for 3 months?: Answer —Charles Loprinzi, M.D.: Tamoxifen commonly causes a thickened uterine lining that can be observed by ultrasound. In the recent past, this test has been evaluated as something that might be helpful for picking up early uterine (endometrial) cancer. Nonetheless, the vast majority opinion is that ultrasound is not helpful in asymptomatic women (women who don't have any symptoms of uterine cancer) and that it only shows the thickened stripes, and nothing more necessarily should be done. Therefore, I would not recommend initial or repeat ultrasound of a uterus in an asymptomatic woman receiving tamoxifen.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2002, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Managing Menopausal Symptoms. Charles Loprinzi, M.D., Debra Barton, Ph.D., and Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, and other symptoms associated with menopause.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Debra Barton, Ph.D. is a nurse coordinator at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she directs clinical trials in cancer control and chemoprevention.

Charles Loprinzi, M.D. is an emeritus chairman of the division of medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Along with hot flash management, his research focuses on ways to reduce pain as well as appetite changes caused by breast cancer treatment.

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.