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Case Reports
. 2014 Feb 13:2014:630731.
doi: 10.1155/2014/630731. eCollection 2014.

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube: a review of a single institution experience of 8 cases

Shakuntala P Nanaiah  1 , Praveen S Rathod  1 , Namrata N Rajkumar  2 , Rajshekar Kundargi  1 , Anbukkani Subbian  1 , Pallavi V Ramachandra  1 , Shobha Krishnappa  1 , Abhilasha Narayan  1 , Uma K Devi  1 , Bafna D Uttamchand  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube: a review of a single institution experience of 8 cases

Shakuntala P Nanaiah et al. ScientificWorldJournal. .

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To evaluate the clinicopathologic features, response to cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy with or without paclitaxel.

Materials and methods: A retrospective observational study of 8 women with a histopathologic diagnosis of primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) from January 2000 to February 2013.

Results: 4/8 (50%) of the women were in the early stage and an intraoperative frozen section was 100% effective in identifying fallopian tube carcinoma and then a staging laparotomy was performed. All 4/8 cases in the early stage had received and responded to single agent carboplatin and all are alive without clinical, radiological, or biochemical evidence of recurrence at the end of 2 years and the longest survivor has completed 13 years. Primary optimal cytoreductive surgery was achievable in 3/4 (75%) in advanced disease. All showed response to adjuvant paclitaxel and carboplatin (T+C), but all had succumbed to the disease following recurrence with mean progression-free survival of 19 months (range 15-21 months) and mean overall survival of 27 months (range 22-36 months).

Conclusion: The pivotal role played by a frozen section in diagnosing PFTC which is rare needs to be reemphasized, therefore justifying a primary staging laparotomy in an early stage. Prolonged survival observed in this group following an optimum tailored adjuvant single agent carboplatin is worth noting.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Showing a normal uterus (Ut.), normal medial portion of the fallopian tube (NT), thickened and dilated to form a retort shape along with growth (DFT-G), and occluding the tubal ostia due to growth (TO). Normal ovary (Ov.) and ovarian ligament (Ov.Li.) are also seen.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tuboovarian mass showing dilated and distended fimbrial end and occlusion of the tubal ostia (TO) due to growth. Distended fallopian tube with growth (DFT), also seen is involved ovarian tissue below (Ov.).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Right tubal mass (FT.M), normal bilateral ovaries (Ov.), and uterus (Ut.).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Hand E (low power) staining showing the fallopian tube wall (FT.) and growth in the cavity forming papillary projections (P).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Hand E (high power) staining showing the fallopian tube wall (FT.) and growth arising from the wall and forming papillary projections due to the malignant growth (MG).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Overall survival of early stage (IA/IB/IC-IIA, all grades) and advanced stage (IIB/III/IV) PFTC women. In early stage, all women are alive. In advanced stage, only 2 were alive at the end of 24 months.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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