Primary cancer of the fallopian tube. Treatment and results of 37 cases.
OBJECTIVE
A collective of 37 patients with primary cancer of the fallopian tube treated at the Gynecologic Clinic of the Justus Liebig University of Giessen, between 1976 and 1995 was retrospectively evaluated for stage, histo-pathology, treatment and results.


METHODS
Median age was 61.5 years, FIGO stages: I 17 (45.9%), II 7 (18.9%,. III 12 (32.4%), and IV 1 (2.7%). Histopathology: adenocarcinoma 45.9%, papillary adenocarcinoma 27%, solid carcinoma 8.1%, undifferentiated carcinoma 5.4%, and others 13.6%.


METHODS
24 patients (64.9%) underwent complete bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy (BSOH); 13 (35.1%) had incomplete surgery. POSTOPERATIVE TREATMENT: 31 patients (83.8%) had chemotherapy (since 1982 with platinum), 28 (75.7%) intraperitoneal radionuclides, 23 (62.2%) percutaneous irradiation, and 6 (16.2%) additional vaginal brachytherapy.


RESULTS
The cumulative survival rates were 40% for the total of 37 patients, stage I 68%, stage II 29%, stage III 10%, stage IV 0%. From 1976 to 1985 the cumulative survival rate was 25%, from 1986 to 1995, 54%. Stage was a significant prognostic factor (p = 0.0001), surgery, age, chemotherapy and irradiation were not. Severe complications occurred in 7 patients (18.9%): 4 fistulas, 1 myelosuppression, 1 ileus, 1 peritonitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the long period of time and alterations in the mode of treatment the benefit of single treatment modalities could not be evaluated, but prognosis-dependent multimodality treatment (radical surgery, irradiation, platinum-containing chemotherapy) has resulted in higher 5-year survival rates for the last decade.
Rauthe
G
G
Schlossbergklinik Oberstaufen, Tumorzentrum der Universitäten München, Germany.
Vahrson
H W
HW
Burkhardt
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate