BACKGROUNDS. This study was based on the assumption that patients after bilateral oophorectomy during endometrial cancer treatment acquire osteoporosis more frequently. According to epidemiologic studies from other countries, postmenopausal women acquire osteoporosis in 13–18% and according to Slovenian data in 27.5% of cases.

METHODS. Our prospective control study was conducted from a pool of patients who are under control after endometrial cancer treatment at the Clinic for gynecology and perinatology at University Medical Centre Maribor. The inclusive criterion was past treatment of endometrial cancer with oophorectomy. Exclusive criteria were history of previous cancers and the use of any medications that could affect mineral bone density. We included 42 patients in the study, whose age matched the age of the control group. Mineral bone density was measured at the hip (neck and great trochanter) and at the lumbal spine (L1–L4).

RESULTS. The prevalence of osteoporosis among our patients was 45.2% and the prevalence of osteopenia was 35.7%. The control group had osteoporosis in 28.6% and osteopenia in 59.2% of cases. Average bone mineral density was 1.8 standard deviations below age-adjusted reference in the lumbal region and 0.9 standard deviations below age-adjusted reference in the hip region. The values were 1.9 and 0.9 in the control group, respectively. We analysed the results with chi-squared test and statistically discovered more osteoporosis in our pool of patients (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS. Osteoporosis is more frequent after treatment of endometrial cancer, but the average bone mineral density was practically the same. These patients also require early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.