[Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube: its clinical aspects and problems in the postoperative staging system]

Clinical features of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube were studied in 13 patients treated in Osaka National Hospital between 1961 and 1987. The relationship between clinical staging and prognosis in each patient is discussed. The incidence of this disease among all cases of malignant tumor in the gynecological department during the same 27-year period was 0.18%. The mean age of the patients was 50.7 years. Twelve patients (92%) were within the age range from 41 to 59 years, the most common age of onset. Six patients (46%) were nulligravida and 9 (69%) were nulliparous, suggesting infertility as a possible important risk factor for the disease. None of the six who underwent cervical cytodiagnosis showed tumor cells. Three were positive for cytodiagnosis by aspiration biopsy. The concomitant use of many drugs, including CDDP given postoperatively to 2 patients with advanced disease, was markedly effective. The radiotherapy carried out in 4 patients was ineffective. When the patients were staged according to the classifications of Dodson et al. and Schiller et al., there was no difference between these classifications in advanced cases. However, Dodson et al.'s classification was considered unsuitable for patients with early-stage cancerous lesions localized in the fallopian tube, while that of Schiller et al. was considered to be superior in evaluating prognosis.