A 55-year-old woman with breast cancer on tamoxifen develops a deep vein thrombosis. Her oncologist switches her to an aromatase inhibitor. She is

Question

A 55-year-old woman with breast cancer on tamoxifen develops a deep vein thrombosis. Her oncologist switches her to an aromatase inhibitor. She is postmenopausal. What is the rationale?

Accepted Answer

Aromatase inhibitors have a lower VTE risk than tamoxifen — tamoxifen's pro-oestrogenic hepatic effects increase clotting factors; AIs eliminate residual oestrogen without hepatic oestrogenic effects

Answer

AIs have identical VTE risk to tamoxifen

Answer

AIs increase VTE risk more than tamoxifen

Answer

VTE precludes all endocrine therapy

Answer

Only letrozole reduces VTE risk

Switch Tamoxifen AI VTE — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

A 55-year-old woman with breast cancer on tamoxifen develops a deep vein thrombosis. Her oncologist switches her to an aromatase inhibitor. She is postmenopausal. What is the rationale?