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Most cancers that affect the fallopian tubes have spread from other parts of the body.
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At first, women may have vague symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort or bloating, or no symptoms.
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Computed tomography is done to check for abnormalities, and surgery is done to confirm the diagnosis.
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Usually, the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, adjacent lymph nodes, and surrounding tissues are removed, followed by chemotherapy.
(See also Overview of Female Reproductive System Cancers.)
In the United States, fewer than 1% of gynecologic cancers are fallopian tube cancers. Cancer that starts in the fallopian tubes is rare. Most cancers that affect the fallopian tubes originate elsewhere in the body.
Women are usually postmenopausal when fallopian tube cancer is diagnosed.
Risk factors for fallopian tube cancer include the following:
More than 95% of fallopian tube cancers are adenocarcinomas, which develop from gland cells. A few are sarcomas, which develop from connective tissue.
Fallopian tube cancer spreads in much the same way as ovarian cancer:
Symptoms
Symptoms of fallopian cancer include vague abdominal discomfort, bloating, and pain in the pelvic area or abdomen. Some women have a watery discharge from the vagina. When cancer is advanced, the abdominal cavity may fill with fluid (a condition called ascites), and women may feel a large lump (mass) in the pelvis.
Diagnosis
Fallopian tube cancer is seldom diagnosed early. Occasionally, it is diagnosed early when a mass or other abnormality is detected during a routine pelvic examination or an imaging test done for another reason. Usually, the cancer is not diagnosed until it is advanced, when it is obvious because a large mass or severe ascites is present.
If fallopian tube cancer is suspected, computed tomography (CT) is usually done. If the results suggest cancer, surgery is done to confirm the diagnosis, determine the extent of the spread (staging), and remove as much of the cancer as possible.
Doctors consider recommending genetic testing for any woman who is diagnosed with fallopian tube (or ovarian) cancer. Doctors also ask about any cancers family members have had. This information helps doctors identify women who are more likely to have a hereditary form of cancer, such as that caused by mutations in BRCA genes.
Staging
Doctors stage the cancer based on how far it has spread:
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Stage I: The cancer occurs only in one or both fallopian tubes.
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Stage II: The cancer has spread to nearby tissues but is still within the pelvis (which contains the internal reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum).
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Stage III: The cancer has spread outside the pelvis to lymph nodes and/or to abdominal organs (such as the surface of the liver).
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Stage IV: The cancer has spread to distant organs.
Staging of fallopian tube cancer requires surgery to biopsy the abnormal areas and to remove and check nearby lymph nodes.
Prognosis
Treatment
Treatment of fallopian tube cancer almost always consists of removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) and removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (salpingo-oophorectomy), adjacent lymph nodes, and surrounding tissues. These procedures are usually done when surgery to stage the cancer is done. Sometimes surgery to stage and treat fallopian cancer can be done using a laparoscope.
For more advanced cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, doctors usually remove as much of the cancer as possible to prolong survival. This type of surgery is called cytoreductive surgery. Depending on where the cancer has spread, women may be treated with chemotherapy instead of or before and/or after surgery.
Chemotherapy (as for ovarian cancer) is usually necessary after surgery. Chemotherapy may be used to destroy any small areas of cancer that may remain. The most commonly used chemotherapy drugs are carboplatin plus paclitaxel. Radiation therapy is rarely useful.
For cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, removing as much of the cancer as possible improves the prognosis.
More Information
The following is an English-language resource that may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.
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National Cancer Institute: Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer: This web site provides links to general information about ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer, as well as links to information about causes, prevention, screening, treatment, and research and about coping with cancer.
