Primary fallopian tube carcinoma: correlation between magnetic resonance and diffuse weighted imaging characteristics and histopathologic findings.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the magnetic resonance (MR) and diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging characteristics of primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC).


METHODS
The clinical, MR, and DW imaging characteristics and pathologic findings of 23 patients with 27 tumors were studied retrospectively. The MR and DW imaging appearance of tumors including laterality, size and shape, architecture, signal intensity, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, enhancement pattern, hydrosalpinx, and intrauterine fluid collection were evaluated and correlated with pathologic findings.


RESULTS
Histopathologically, all 27 tumors were serous carcinoma with a unilateral tumor in 19 patients and bilateral tumors in 4 patients. Thirteen patients (57%) with PFTC were misdiagnosed preoperatively, 10 of which as epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The mean (SD) largest diameter was 61 (7) mm. The tumor shape was fusiform, sausagelike, or serpentine in 19 patients (70%) and nodular or irregular in 8 patients (30%). Twenty (74%) of the 27 tumors were solid, and 7 (26%) were cystic-solid. The solid components showed hypointensity to isointensity on T1-weighted imaging, and isointensity to slight hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging. There were obvious hyperintensity on DW imaging; obvious hypointensity on ADC maps with a mean (SD) ADC value of 0.79 (0.22) × 10 mm; and mild (8/27, 30%), moderate (13/27, 48%), and marked (6/27, 22%) enhancement on contrast-enhanced imaging. Ipsilateral hydrosalpinx, intrauterine fluid collection, and ascites were found in 14 tumors (52%) and 7 (30%) and 5 (22%) patients, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The PFTC has some characteristic MR imaging features. The DW imaging, ADC maps, and ADC values are helpful for the detection and differentiation of PFTC from other pelvic masses.
From the *Department of Radiology, Jinshan Hospital, and Departments of †Radiology and ‡Pathology, Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Song Qi
SQ
Cai
Feng Hua
FH
Ma
Jin Wei
JW
Qiang
Shu Hui
SH
Zhao
Guo Fu
GF
Zhang
Ya Min
YM
Rao
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies