title: Unsuspected primary tubal carcinoma during operative laparoscopy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wenzl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lehner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dräger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jirecek
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gamper
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sevelda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged