DO LONG-TERM ADMINISTRATION OF TAMOXIFEN AFFECT BONE-MINERAL DENSITY

A retrospective study was performed to determine whether the long-term (5 years or more) administration of tamoxifen is detrimental to bone mineral density (BMD). 19 patients taking adjuvant tamoxifen for breast cancer were paired with 19 controls comparable in age, time since menopause and performance status. BMD was measured at the femoral neck, lumbar spine and total body by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). There was no detrimental effect on BMD at any site. There was a trend towards an increase in BMD at the femoral neck. There were minor decreases in the serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase.