Carcinoma of the fallopian tube presenting as acute pelvic inflammatory disease.
BACKGROUND
Primary carcinomas of the fallopian tube are rare and their preoperative diagnosis is difficult due to the lack of specific symptoms.


METHODS
We present two tumors diagnosed in women 74 and 77 years old. On examination both patients presented as acute pelvic peritonitis with abdominal pain and tenderness with guarding and rebound, as well as fever and leukocytosis. At surgery, a left tubal carcinoma was found in each patient. Marked inflammatory and purulent reaction involving the uterus, the adnexa, and the pelvic peritoneum, and no abnormalities in the digestive tract were identified. A total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in both patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Carcinoma of the fallopian tube should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic peritonitis, a previously poorly reported clinical presentation.
Romagosa
Cleofé
C
Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic-Institut d'Investigaciones Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, School of Medicine, Barcelona.
Torné
Aureli
A
Iglesias
Xavier
X
Cardesa
Antonio
A
Ordi
Jaume
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis*