The Effect of Hormonal Replacement Therapy on Breast

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate mammographic and sonographic breast parenchymal changes and the risk of breast cancer in women on hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 50 patients examined with serial mammograms and/or ultrasonograms during HRT. The control group consisted of 50 patients examined with serial mammogram for a routine health check. Mammographic parenchymal changes in both the study and control groups and so- nographic findings of 27/50 patients in study group were evaluated. RESULTS: Follow-up mammogram of the control group showed no interval change or slight evolution of parenchyma with increasing age, but the study group showed increasing parenchymal densities. Most frequently encountered finding on SOhogram in 11 women treated by estrogen alone, was ductal dilatation (7cases ;64%), whereas in 16 women treated by estrogen and progesteron it was ductal epithelial hyperplasia (8 cases; 50%). Overall, four breast cancers developed;one infiltrating ductal carcinoma and three ductal carcinoma in situ. CONCLUSION: HRT causes the changes of breast parenchyma on mammogram and sonogram of postmenopausal women, and increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, careful and regular examination should be followed in those on postmenopausal HRT.