Objectives: From a review of 20 cases of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube, we stress the various clinical aspects of the disease and discuss the possibilities of a preoperative diagnosis.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study covering the period between 1982 and 1996. An analysis of the different etiological factors mentioned in the literature, of the physical signs and symptoms of the carcinoma, of the patients' age and hormonal status as well as the role of additional investigations was conducted.
Results: The average age of the patients was 62.3 years, 90% of the women had reached menopause and 15% were nullipara. A history of salpingitis was noted in 5% of the patients and another 5% had infertility problems. 20% of the patients had suffered from another carcinoma. Metrorrhagia was the most frequent clinical finding revealing the disease (55%) followed by abnormal secretions of blood stained liquid (15%). Hydrops Tubae Profluens was not observed in this series. The main complementary investigations performed were pelvic ultrasound scanning and hysterosalpingography, preoperative diagnosis was possible in 15% of cases; diagnosis was made during the operative procedure in 45% of cases and by pathologic examination in the remaining 40% of patients.
Conclusion: Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is a rare form of cancer of unknown aetiology. Clinical signs are often unrelated and sometimes misleading; however, preoperative diagnosis is possible if one keeps in mind the existence of this carcinoma.