Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2015; 75 - A41
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1551615

Metastases to the Fallopian Tube Mucosal Involvement by Uterine Carcinomas – a rare metastatic pattern of Adnexal Involvement

AK Höhn 1, G Teichmann 2, R Robel 3, I Karbe 4, LC Horn 1
  • 1Institute of Pathology, Division of Breast, Gynecologic & Perinatal Pathology, University of Leipzig
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HELIOS-Vogtland Hospital, Plauen
  • 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Leipzig Country Hospital, Borna
  • 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University, Halle/Saale

Background: Fallopain tube, especially its fibriated end, has become focus of research in the pathogenesis of high-grade (HG-SPC) and low-grade (LG-SPC) serous pelvic cancer (Kurman & Shih 2011, Vang et al. 2013, Laury et al. 2011). Intramucosal spread of extra-tubal and extra-ovarian malignancies may mimic serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC).

Methods: Here we report four consecutive cases with intramucosal spread of uterine cancers to the Fallopian tube.

Results: Two cases represented with well differentiated endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma with myometrial invasion 33% and 80%. One cases presented with a mixed clear cell and serous endometrial carcinoma and myometrial invasion of 85%. The fourth case presented with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix and parametrial involvement. All cases represented tumor tissue within the lumen of the Fallopian tube and mucosal involvement. In all cases mucosal involvement represented the only detectable adnexal involvement by the endometrial and cervical adenocarcinoma.

Comment: Mucosal involvement of the Fallopian tube is an uncommon form of adnexal involvement by endometrial and cervical adenocarcinomas. Pathogenetically it represents a transtubal spread by the tumor with secondary mucosal implantation in those cases and my represent the only focus of adnexal spread. Recently it has been reported that mucosal involvement of the Fallopian tube may also occur in nongynecologic tumors (Rabban et al. 2014).