Clinicopathologic study of 16 cases of primary tubal malignancy

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 1994 Mar;4(2):111-118. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1438.1994.04020111.x.

Abstract

Sixteen cases of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube were diagnosed and treated at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong from July 1972 to June 1992 constituting 0.26% of the total gynecologic malignancies seen during that period. The average age was 61 years and the most common presenting symptom was abnormal vaginal bleeding. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult; in only one case was a diagnosis of malignancy made by cervical smear. An adnexal mass was detected in 13 of the cases (81.3%) either by clinical examination and/or ultrasonography. Therapy consisted of surgical resection, usually followed by various combinations of adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The cumulative survival was 62%. In addition to the typical form of adenocarcinoma, one case of squamous cell carcinoma and a case of multifocal endometrioid adenocarcinoma were observed. One case of an apparently usual form of adenocarcinoma recurred as a heterologous malignant mixed Müllerian tumor 2 years after diagnosis. This series further emphasises the wide range of differentiation possible in the Müllerian system and the variety of neoplasms which may arise from it.