Clinical study of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube: experience with 15 cases

Between 1950 and 1986, fifteen cases of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube were diagnosed and treated at the Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo. These cases constituted 0.14% of the total number of gynecologic malignancies at the hospital during that period. The average age of the 15 patients was 55.7 years. The most frequent symptom was atypical genital bleeding, seen in 12 cases (80%). Massive watery discharge was seen in 4 cases (27%). In preoperative cytologic examination, 6 cases (40%) were positive for cancer. All cases underwent operation as therapy. Postoperative irradiation, adjuvant chemotherapy, and/or second- or third-look operations were also performed. Histopathologically, all materials were found to be adenocarcinoma. Four cases were well differentiated, eight were moderately differentiated, and three were poorly differentiated. As for the prognosis, 7 patients were followed more than 5 years postoperatively. The 5-year survival rate was 57% (4/7). In stage I cancers, the 5-year survival rate was 80% (4/5). The prognosis of stage I cancer patients was estimated to be rather good.