title: Primary fallopian tube cancer: domestic data and up-to-date review.
abstract: Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare gynecological malignancy with the following characteristics: its preoperative diagnosis is easy to miss or delay because of a lack of specific symptoms and signs; it is difficult to distinguish from serous epithelial ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal serous carcinoma during or even after operation because they have the same histopathological features; and there is uncertainty regarding the optimal management because of the lack of available standard guidelines. All of these factors contribute to the major challenge of undertaking a comprehensive study of this disease. To improve our understanding of this rare disease, the domestic data were summarized first. We searched PubMed on this topic, using the term "primary fallopian tube tumor and Taiwan" (from January 1, 1990 to November 3, 2013) and identified 15 published articles, but only 11 studies focused on the outcome of patients with PFTC in Taiwan. These limited data were not enough to increase our knowledge in dealing with this disease; therefore, the addition of large series or published review articles addressing this topic was needed. According to these reports, we concluded: (1) the main type of PFTC was serous type, often poorly differentiated; (2) the diagnosis of PFTC is frequently missed or delayed; (3) PFTC is often of an earlier International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage than is epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), because of the appearance of earlier but nonspecific symptoms or signs, such as abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and watery discharge or mass; (4) the most important clinicopathological prognostic factor was FIGO stage; (5) the therapeutic strategy is still uncertain, but is often based on the guidelines for treating EOC. An intensive surgical effort such as a complete surgical resection or optimal cytoreduction surgery with a minimal residual tumor followed by a platinum-paclitaxel combination chemotherapy with/without targeted therapy (for example, antiangiogenesis agents) may provide the best possibility of disease-free or overall survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huann-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Horng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cardinal Tien Hospital-Hsintien, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sen-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Ilan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ben-Shian
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsu-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: msyen@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Ming-Shyen
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Infection and Immunity Research, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Immunology Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: phwang@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Peng-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biological Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Pingtung County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Hao
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Chang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Mu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Tai
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University School of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Hsun
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D058994:Salpingectomy; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen
keywords: outcome; primary fallopian tube carcinoma; prognosis; treatment