Clinical characteristics of primary Fallopian tube carcinoma: A single‐institution retrospective study of 57 cases

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical profile and prognosis of primary Fallopian tube cancer (PFTC) in order to improve earlier diagnosis. Methods In this retrospective study, 57 women with PFTC were assessed from 2006 to 2016. Pathology, clinical index, recurrence, and survival were analyzed. Results Mean age was 57.35 ± 9.01 years, and 73% (19/26) of the patients with early‐stage PFTC (I/II) were aged less than 60 years. Of patients who presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding, 75% (9/12) were at an early stage and their condition was often misdiagnosed as endometrial carcinoma preoperatively. In patients with Stages I/II and Stages III/IV PFTC, 59.09% (13/22) and 96.43% (27/28), respectively, had adnexal masses on color Doppler ultrasonography. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival rates were 69.23% and 44.23%, respectively, and univariate analysis showed that tumor stage and residual tumor size significantly affected the two survival rates. Conclusion Primary Fallopian tube cancer is more likely to be misdiagnosed in patients aged less than 60 years or those presenting with vaginal bleeding at the premenopausal stage. Magnetic resonance imaging, cervical smear, and endometrial brush may be helpful for early PFTC diagnosis. Satisfactory cytoreductive surgery is critical because tumor stage and residual tumor size are significantly associated with the OS rate.

Early-stage serous fallopian tube carcinoma

“…Risk factors for epithelial ovarian carcinoma, and thus fallopian tube carcinoma, are those that increase lifetime ovulation cycles, such as nulliparity, early menarche and late menopause 1. The most common histological subtype of PFTC is serous fallopian tube carcinoma 2 4…”

“…A study has shown that only about 4% of patients were diagnosed with PFTC preoperatively, 68.7% of patients were diagnosed at stage III/IV postoperatively and up to 50% of the disease was missed intraoperatively 2. Another study determined that 10.5% of patients were diagnosed with PFTC preoperatively, 80.7% were misdiagnosed with ovarian cancer and 8.8% were misdiagnosed with endometrial cancer 4…”

“…Historically, the clinical presentation of fallopian tube carcinoma has been described by Latzko’s triad, which includes intermittent profuse serosanguinous vaginal bleeding, colicky pain relieved by discharge and an abdominal or pelvic mass 2. Latzko’s triad manifests in early-stage disease 4. However, the percentage of patients that actually present with all of these symptoms is small and was only reported in 7% – 15% of patients 2 4.…”

“…Latzko’s triad manifests in early-stage disease 4. However, the percentage of patients that actually present with all of these symptoms is small and was only reported in 7% – 15% of patients 2 4. Other, atypical, symptoms of PFTC that have been documented include irregular menstruation, urinary frequency and urgency, generalised body aches, fever and lower extremity oedema 4…”

Successful pregnancy via in vitro fertilization in a primary infertile woman with primary lymphoma of the fallopian tube after surgery: A case report and literature review

“…[ 12 ] It will decrease during disease remission, and return to elevated levels in disease recurrence. Over 50% primary fallopian tube carcinoma also have elevated serum CA-125 levels, [ 13 ] so the identification of primary fallopian tube carcinoma and PLFGT can only depend on histological diagnosis.…”