Unsuspected primary tubal carcinoma during operative laparoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible risk of dealing with an unsuspected primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube during laparoscopic surgery.


METHODS
We performed a countrywide survey in Austria concerning laparoscopic procedures in cases of primary carcinoma of the tube. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the pre-, intra-, and postoperative management.


RESULTS
Of 18,435 laparoscopies in cases of an adnexal mass, 5 cases were reported, when laparoscopy was performed on an unsuspected carcinoma of the tube. Therefore, the risk of detecting this malignancy during laparoscopy after preoperative evaluation is 1 in 3687 cases (0.028%).


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of encountering an unsuspected primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube during laparoscopy in Austria is an extremely rare situation. In case of a malignancy, a staging or debulking laparotomy should be performed immediately or as soon as possible.
Wenzl
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Lehner
R
R
Dräger
M
M
Jirecek
S
S
Gamper
C
C
Sevelda
P
P
D000368:Aged; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged