INTRAUTERINE-DEVICE USE AND RISK OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

The relationship between intrauterine device (IUD) use and risk of endometrial cancer has been analysed in a case-control study conducted in Italy between 1983 and 1992, including 453 patients with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer and 1,451 controls admitted for acute, non-gynaecological, non-hormonal, non-neoplastic conditions to the same network of hospitals where cases had been identified. Two (0.4%) cases versus 36 (2.3%) controls reported ever using an IUD. The corresponding multivariate relative risk was 0.4 (95% CI 0.1-1.0). The results of this study and the few published available epidemiological data suggest a protective role of IUD use on endometrial carcinogenesis, but potential selective mechanisms for IUD utilisation (indication bias) should be carefully considered in the interpretation.