Background & Aims: Tamoxifen is used in breast cancer as adjuvant hormonal therapy. Some studies have found effect of tamoxifen on bile components and gallstone formation. The purpose of the study was to find out the association between tamoxifen use in patient with breast cancer and gallstone formation.

 Materials & Methods: 780 patient with breast cancer who had undergone surgery in 3 hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were recruited for the study.327 patients did not receive tamoxifen and 435 patients were treated with tamoxifen. All of the patients underwent abdominal ultrasound test for liver metastasis.

 RESULT: The incidence of gallstone formation in group using tamoxifen was 30.4% in contrast with 0.05% of patients who did not receive tamoxifen.

 Conclusion: Adjuvant tamoxifen therapy leads to gallstone formation in breast cancer patients and is the most apparent after 5 years of treatment. As a result, all patient with breast cancer who receive treatment should get annual assessment for gall bladder stones.

     Source: Urmia Med J 2011: 22(4): 390 ISSN: 1027-3727