Primary Carcinoma of the Fallopian Tube: Clinicopathologic Profile and p53 Status of 6 Cases.

Park, N H; Kim, E K; Seo, W S; Kim, Y B; Lee, C M; Kim, J W; Park, I A; Song, Y S; Kang, S B; Lee, H P

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1998;41(9):2454-2460.
Published online January 1, 2001.

Primary Carcinoma of the Fallopian Tube: Clinicopathologic Profile and p53 Status of 6 Cases.

N H Park, E K Kim, W S Seo, Y B Kim, C M Lee, J W Kim, I A Park, Y S Song, S B Kang, H P Lee

Abstract

Because of the rarity of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube (PCFT), the clinicopathologic characteristics have not been well known. The aim of this study was to identify the clinicopathologic characteristics and p53 mutant gene expression in PCFT. We reviewed retrospectively the clinical records of PCFT treated at Seoul National University Hospital between 1987 and 1996, and identified 6 patients with PCFT. The clinicopathological profile was analyzed and immunohistochemical staining for p53 were done to identify p53 mutant gene overexpression. The mean age was 57.5 years and all 6 cases were multiparous. The most common symptom was lower abdominal pain. The patients were staged as follows according to FIGO (1992): stage I a, 1; stage IIa, 2; stage IIIb, 1; stage IIIc, 1; stage IV, 1. During 50 (9-118) months of follow-up, three patients are alive without recurrence for average 26 months. The p53 staining was positive in 4 cases (67%), and three of them were dead (N=2) or recurred (N=1). In conclusion, primary cancer of fallopian tube was difficult to diagnose prior to surgery. The prognosis was generally poor and the p53 abnormality might be associated with worse prognosis.

Key Words: Tubal cancer, p53