Primary fallopian tube carcinoma - the experience of a UK cancer centre and a review of the literature

Abstract

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is rare but may be under-diagnosed. We have analysed the incidence, clinical findings and outcome in patients with PFTC at the RUH Gynaecological Cancer Centre in Bath between 1999 and 2004, and compared the incidence with that of advanced ovarian carcinoma (OC). Eight patients had PFTC, seven of whom were diagnosed after 2001, and 55 patients had advanced OC. Our data suggest a relative increase in the number of patients with PFTC over the study period. PFTC patients had a mean age of 69.6 years, most presented with postmenopausal bleeding, two had a second carcinoma, three were nulliparous and none were diagnosed pre-operatively. All were treated surgically and received platinum-based chemotherapy. Although PFTC patients had better outcomes than those with advanced OC, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.088). Accurate diagnosis and differentiation of PFTC from advanced OC are important for monitoring trends in incidence, for better characterisation of prognostic features and improved management.