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Risk factors in endometrial carcinoma with special reference to the use of estrogens.

1979; National Institutes of Health; Volume: 86; Linguagem: Inglês

T Salmi,

Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments

To determine the possible risk factors of endometrial carcinoma especially use of hormones a personal interview method was used in a case-control study. The cases were endometrial carcinoma patients from which 318 were interviewed. A total of 585 tentative controls were interviewed and 1 was matched with each case for age within 5 years for weight (within 10% of a weight for a certain height and age) and for social class. 282 pairs were formed. Percent of unmarried women was higher in the endometrial carcinoma group but not significantly so. In general the endometrial carcinoma patients were heavier than controls (mean weight of patients 73.7 kg; and mean weight of controls 66.4 kg); this was highly statistically significant. Relative risk of endometrial carcinoma among women with a history of breast cancer or uterine cancer in the relatives was 1.6 and 2 respectively; the uterine cancer risk was significant. Mean age at menarch among matched cases was higher than controls (P < .05). Mean age at menopause of cases was higher than controls (P < .05). Relative risk of endometrial carcinoma was 3 among those without pregnancies. Earlier gynecological disease or operations were not significant risk factors. Continuous medication (hormones excluded) increased risk if the medication was for diabetes (2.4) or heart (digitalis 1.9). Controls had used hormones with some gynecological indication significantly more often than cases. Matched cases had received hormones because of menstrual disorders significantly more often than controls but cases had not been curettaged more than controls. Therefore it is assumed that cases had more menstrual disorders than controls supporting the view of endogenous inbalance in hormonal status of endometrial carcinoma patients. Relative risk of endometrial carcinoma among estrogen users was .8 when restricted to pairs residing in the city of Turku. In this investigation no excess risk of endometrial cancer was found among estrogen users.