Endometrial cancer rate in Hormone replacement therapy users with postmenopausal bleeding: Retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective To establish the endometrial cancer detection rate in women using hormone replacement therapy presenting with postmenopausal bleeding. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting and population Rapid access gynaecology clinic at a tertiary hospital. Women aged under 60 years referred with postmenopausal bleeding. Methods Retrospective study of referrals received between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020 including Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use and histological diagnosis. Main outcome measures Histological diagnosis of endometrial cancer, borderline ovarian tumour or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. Statistical analysis Chi squared test Results 1363 women were included. 214 women were using HRT when they experienced PMB and only one of these had endometrial cancer at histology (cancer detection rate 0.47%). 25 of the 1124 women who were not using HRT were diagnosed with endometrial cancer on histology (cancer detection rate 2.18%). Chi squared statistical analysis confirmed this was statistically significant ( p value .0156). Conclusions The endometrial cancer detection rate in women aged under 60 years using HRT with PMB is very low. Referral on a two-week wait pathway for suspected cancer diagnosis induces stress and anxiety for the woman and may lead to more invasive initial investigation even though other diagnoses are far more likely. Women aged under 60 years with postmenopausal bleeding that have either commenced HRT or had a change to their preparation within the last 6 months should be seen on a less urgent referral pathway if necessary given the very low probability of endometrial cancer.