Diagnosis and clinical management in malignant Müllerian tumors of the fallopian tube. A report of four cases and review of recent literature

Abstract

Four out of 42 cases of primary tubal malignancy diagnosed in our histopathological laboratory were malignant mixed Müllerian tumors (MMMT). All four patients were postmenopausal with a mean age of 66.5 years at diagnosis. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made only in one case. Tumor staging (FIGO) revealed stage IIa, IIIc and IV. One patient died of postoperative pulmonary embolism, a second patient of an unknown cause five month after surgery and a third patient died of disease after 11 months with secondary deposits in pelvic peritoneum, omentum and paraaortic lymph nodes. The fourth patient is still alive. One patient received chemotherapy alone, one by radiation and chemotherapy and two patients by radiation alone. Tumor spread at the time of diagnosis and the residual tumor volume were the most important prognostic factors. All tumors were histologically the homologous type of MMMT (carcinosarcomas). No heterologous elements were found. Metastatic tumors showed only sarcomatous elements.