Fallopian tube primary cancer: report of five cases and review of the literature

The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, management and prognosis of five patients with fallopian tube primary cancer (FTPC) who were diagnosed and treated in our departments. A review of the current literature is also presented. Between January 2000 and August 2009, five cases with histologically confirmed FTPC were diagnosed in our departments and were then evaluated retrospectively. All patients underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and total omentectomy. We had two patients in Stage IA (40%), two patients in Stage IC (40%) and one patient in Stage IIIA (20%). All patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with platinum-based combinations and two of them received additional radiotherapy. FTPC, compared with ovarian primary cancer (OPC), is more likely to present at an early stage and have an overall more favourable outcome. More extensive clinical research must be performed to have definite aetiologic, diagnostic and management modalities.