[Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube: cases from 1971 to 1985 (27 patients). Current therapeutic approaches]

Twenty-seven patients with carcinoma of the fallopian tube were treated at the First Obstet. Gynecol. Clinic, University of Milan. Nineteen of them had the primary surgical procedure in our center and accounted for 2% of tubal and ovarian carcinomas. The others had been operated elsewhere. Another primary genital cancer occurred in 7 of these women and a breast carcinoma was recorded in the history of other 2. At laparotomy, 11 tumors were Stage I, 9 Stage II, and 7 Stage III. Postoperative adjuvant therapy was not homogenous, however chemotherapy was given to about 59% of patients. Five years survival rate was 65% for Stage I, 34% for Stage II and 17% for Stage III. The discussion deals with early diagnosis, prognostic and/or therapeutic role of pelvic and/or aortic lymphadenectomy and effectiveness of adjuvant therapy.