title: Serial sectioning of the fallopian tube allows for improved identification of primary fallopian tube carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serial sectioning of the fallopian tube in women undergoing risk reducing surgery has been shown to increase the detection rate of occult malignancy in BRCA mutation carriers. We undertook this study to determine whether this protocol at the time of surgery for ovarian cancer (OV) or primary peritoneal malignancies (PP) changes the detection rate of fallopian tube carcinoma (FT). We secondarily investigated where this difference affects patient outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 130 patients treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center for ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube carcinoma was conducted. Sixty five patients diagnosed with OV, PP or FT who had serial sectioning of the fallopian tubes at the time of diagnoses (SS) were compared to 65 patients whose fallopian tubes were sectioned in a standard fashion (PSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serial sectioning of the fallopian tube at the time of pathologic examination in women with presumed OV or PP led to an increase in the number of women diagnosed with FT as the primary site of origin (p<0.001). Clinical or pathologic risk factors leading to an increased risk of FT were not identified. Survival between the two groups was similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In women with presumed OV or PP, serial sectioning identifies women with FT. FT may be more common than previously noted; however distinct biologic or clinical behavior to differentiate it from OV or PP could not be identified. Clinical management of FT should continue to be the same as that of OV or PP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.forename: Saroj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Kelsey A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montag
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Temkin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies