Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube in a Nigerian

The first documented report of a rare neoplasm, primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube in a postmenopausal Nigerian is presented. The patient complained of postmenopausal bleeding which persisted after curettage and satisfactory treatment of a pre-existing senile vaginitis and cervicitis. The diagnosis of tubal carcinoma was made only at the time of exploratory laparotomy at which a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed and confirmed at histopathological examination of the specimen. Problems relating to its unusual symptomatology, its association with pelvic inflammatory disease and pelvic tuberculosis, diagnostic difficulties, choice of treatment and factors that may influence survival are discussed.