A case of primary adenocarcinoma of fallopian tube; its cytological findings

We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of the left fallopian tube exhibiting interesting findings of aspiration cytology from ascites. A 66-year-old woman was admitted because of ascites. Aspiration cytology of the ascites revealed many adenocarcinoma cells with pseudo-cilia and psammoma bodies, which are commonly considered to be characteristic of ovarian serous cyst-adenocarcinoma. Thus, a preoperative diagnosis of ovarian adenocarcinoma was made. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was carried out after chemotherapy. Macroscopically, a solid tumor, 1.5cm in diameter, was found in the left fallopian tube. After histological examination of the tumor, the final diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of the left fallopian tube was established. Since primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube lacks characteristic cytological findings, preoperative diagnosis of this tumor has been considered difficult. On the other hand, pseudo-cilia and psammoma bodies in aspiration cytology of primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube have not been previously described. This case may supply some information about the cytological features and histogenesis of this tumor.