Transitional cell carcinoma pattern in primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube

A broad papillary proliferation resembling that in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder was seen in 12 of 21 primary carcinomas of the Fallopian tube (PCFT).

According to their predominant histologic pattern (more than 50%), PCFT were classified into 9 TCC-predominant and 12 non-TCC-predominant tumors. The two groups were compared by clinicopathologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical means.

TCC-predominant tumors were grossly solid and microscopically demonstrated more frequent tumor necrosis and spindled tumor cells than non-TCC-predominant tumors. Mucin histochemistry revealed a correlation between TCC-predominant tumor and sulfomucin-predominant secretion and between non-TCC-predominant tumor and sialomucin-predominant secretion. Immunohistochemical studies for cytokeratins, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), Leu-M1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CA 125 were not useful for discrimination between the two groups. Both groups showed similar features in patient age, clinical stage, cytology of ascites or peritoneal washing, and serum CA 125 level. Despite the similarity in treatment (surgery and postoperative chemotherapy) between the two groups, TCC-predominant tumors tended to relapse later (mean, 31.2 months after diagnosis) than non-TCC-predominant tumors (mean, 14.4 months after diagnosis), resulting in a significant difference in the 2-year disease-free survival rate.

TCC pattern and non-TCC pattern are considered to be worthy of distinction in PCFT.