[Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in tubal adenocarcinoma. Report of a case]

Primary adenocarcinoma of the Fallopian tube is one of the most rare tumours: its incidence varies from 0.5% to 1.1% of all gynecological neoplasias. In 1988 a total of 1,200 cases had been reported, the majority grouped in small series and/or individual case reports. The first case was reported by Renauld in 1847. The preoperative diagnosis has increased over the past forty years from 0.26% to 6.38%, and is still extremely low. The diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of the uterine tube is basically achieved by exclusion, and in fact the metastasization of the tubes by adjacent gynecological organs must be excluded. The trio of abdominal pain, leukorrhea, metrorrhagia is regarded by many authors as being pathognomonic of tubal adenocarcinoma. In about half of patients the interval between the onset of symptoms and histological diagnosis is 2-3 months, and in 30% less than one month. The authors report their experience of a case in a 62-year-old patient with typical symptoms of primary tubal adenocarcinoma.