The Typical Computed Tomography Findings of Primary Fallopian Tube Carcinoma

This study aimed to investigate the imaging features of primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC).

Imaging findings of 12 PFTC patients were retrospectively studied. Multi-slice computed tomography (CT, MSCT) was performed to investigate tumor location, size, density, appearance (cystic/solid), enhancement pattern, and metastasis.

Twelve women aged 34-67 (mean=54.3) years were presented with pelvic pain (n=6), vaginal discharge (n=5), and incidental pelvic masses (n=3). The tumor diameters of PFTC varied from 3.3 to 6.8 cm (mean=4.7 cm). Ten cases were unilateral, and two were bilateral. The lesions were adnexal tubular-shaped cystic masses with mucosal papillary nodes in six cases, irregular cystic and solid masses in four cases, and sausage-shaped solid masses in two cases. The plain CT values ranged from 15 to 35 HU (mean, 28 HU). On enhanced CT, the enhancement of the solid composition was lower than that of the myometrium in all phases. CT values in arterial and venous phases were 55-62 and 60-63 HU, respectively, with average values of 58.6 and 61 HU. The metastasis sites included the ovary (n=2), omentum (n=3), retroperitoneal lymph nodes (n=5), pelvic lymph nodes (n=5), and inguinal lymph nodes (n=2). Seven cases exhibited pelvic fluid, and seven exhibited round ligament thickening on the lesioned side.

In patients presenting with vaginal discharge or genital bleeding and sausage-shaped or tubal-shaped cystic, solid, or solid-cystic complexes in the adnexal portion associated with hydrosalpinx and peritumoral ascites, PFTC should be considered in the diagnosis, especially in tumors associated with round ligament thickening.