Malignant Lesions of the Fallopian Tube and Broad Ligament

Updated: Jan 24, 2019

Author: Hetal B Gor, MD, FACOG; Chief Editor: Warner K Huh, MD

Overview

Background

In 1847, Renaud first described fallopian tube malignancy. In 1888, Orthmann submitted the first genuine case report.[1]

The broad ligament is a double fold of peritoneum, which is formed by the reflection of the peritoneum off the pelvic floor and the lateral pelvic wall. Most tumors are benign cysts, but malignant tumors are categorized as either primary or secondary.

Primary malignancies of the broad ligament include those of müllerian origin (ie, serous carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma), urothelium transitional cell carcinoma, mesenchymal sarcoma or histiocytoma, and pheochromocytoma. Some researchers suggest that some primary fallopian tube cancers are misdiagnosed as primary ovarian cancers; however, an experienced pathologist can help to differentiate that.

Secondary malignancies of the broad ligament include metastatic cancers from endometrial, cervical, and ovarian carcinoma.

A primary malignancy is diagnosed based on its location within or on the surface of the broad ligament and by virtue of the complete separation of the tumor from the uterus and ovaries.

See also Fallopian Tube Disorders and Broad Ligament Disorders.

Pathophysiology

Fallopian tube malignancy usually starts as a dysplasia or carcinoma in situ. Typically, transition to adenocarcinoma is observed.

Gilks et al indicate that most cases of incidental nonuterine high-grade carcinomas (HGSCs) arise in the fallopian tube fimbria.[2] In their report, 16 of 21 cases that were incidental microscopic, non-mass-forming serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma or HGSCs had lesions confined to the fallopian tube (unilateral, 14 cases; bilateral, 2 cases).[3] All 16 had serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, and 8 of 16 had invasive HGSC into the underlying lamina propria. In 5 of 21 cases, fallopian tube mucosal and ovarian involvement was found, including 2 cases that also had microscopic peritoneal involvement.[2]

The etiology of malignancies of the broad ligament is unknown, although they are associated with endometriosis.

Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

Fallopian tube carcinomas comprise 1% of all gynecologic cancers. The average annual incidence is 3.6 cases per million women.

Mortality/Morbidity

On average, the 5-year survival rate is 51%; the rate for stage I disease is 65%, stage II disease is 50-60%, and stage III and stage IV disease is 10-20%.

Race

These lesions are more common in whites.

Age

Incidence increases with age but peaks at 60-66 years.

Presentation

History

Malignant lesions of the fallopian tube

Patients may present with pelvic pain, a pelvic mass, postmenopausal bleeding, and serosanguineous vaginal discharge.

The classic description of hydrops tubae profluens, which is characterized by colicky lower abdominal pain relieved by a profuse, serous, watery, yellow, intermittent, vaginal discharge, usually is not found.

Malignant lesions of the broad ligament

A clinical history of vague abdominal pain may be present. Upon examination or with abdominal exploration, an adnexal mass is found.

Rarely, it can manifest as an acute abdominal emergency, simulating appendicitis.

Physical

Physical examination findings are not specific; a pelvic mass usually is present, with or without ascites.

Diagnostic criteria include the following:

Grossly, the main tumor should be in the fallopian tube.
Histologically, the tubal mucosa should be involved, with a papillary pattern.
The tubal wall, if involved, and a transition from benign to malignant tubal epithelium should be identified.
The lesion is a more advanced stage of tubal tumor than the other tumors.

Causes

The exact etiology is unknown.

Infertility and chronic salpingitis were believed to lead to an increase in incidence, but this theory has not been proven. However, malignancy has been associated with tuberculous salpingitis.

Similar to ovarian malignancy, a BRCA germline mutation and TP53 mutation are associated with fallopian tube malignancy.[4]

DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

Fallopian tube and broad ligament malignancies are rare gynecological malignancies. Diagnosing these malignancies at an early stage is difficult because of the lack of symptoms or the presence of nonspecific symptoms. Diagnosis usually is an incidental finding; therefore, medicolegally, it is possible that patients can sue because of a failure to diagnose the cancer at an early stage or preoperatively. In addition, no standardized treatment exists. Usually, these conditions are treated in a manner similar to that used for ovarian cancer intraoperatively. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery depends on individual preferences.

Differential Diagnoses

Benign Fallopian Tube Disease
Benign Lesions of the Ovaries
Benign Ovarian Disease
Breast Cancer
Broad Ligament Tumors
Fallopian Tube Disorders
Malignant Epithelial Ovarian Tumors
Ovarian Tumors of Low Malignant Potential

Workup

Laboratory Studies

Investigations usually are for postmenopausal bleeding and include the following:

Papanicolaou smear test, showing malignant glandular cells
Endometrial biopsy

The cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) tumor marker assay is performed for follow-up study as a marker of response to therapy.

Imaging Studies

CT scan and MRI help detect location and size of adnexal mass, any metastatic mass, lymph nodes, and other findings for preoperative planning and counseling.

Hysterosalpingography can help detect intraluminal growth; however, spreading the malignancy is a risk.

Color Doppler can help detect arteriovenous shunts, microaneurysms, tumoral lakes, vascular blind ends, dichotomous branching, neovascularization, and low resistance indices.

Three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasonography can help detect papillary protrusions, pseudoseptae, tumoral lakes, microaneurysms, and arteriovenous shunting.

Ultrasonography helps detect an adnexal mass, especially a solid mass corresponding with the expected location of the fallopian tubes in association with normal ovaries or as a sausage-shaped cystic mass with papillary projections.

If symptoms warrant, an upper and lower GI series and barium enema can be performed.

Other Tests

3-D culture models of ovarian cancer, including the fallopian tube fimbriae, show promise in providing a more detailed evaluation of the tumor microenvironment and tumorigenesis.[5, 6, 7, 8]

Histologic Findings

Type of carcinomas found include serous carcinoma (50%), endometrioid carcinoma (25%), transitional cell carcinoma (11.7%), undifferentiated carcinoma (7.8%), mixed carcinoma (3.9%), and clear cell carcinoma (1.9%).

In a retrospective analysis (2001-2011) of 36 Chinese patients with pathology-confirm primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) who underwent surgical staging, 24 cases were pure adenocarcinoma, 10 cases were mixed.[9] No cases of highly differentiated carcinoma were found, but there was 1 case each of undifferentiated carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma/transitional cell carcinoma, 5 cases of moderately differentiated carcinoma, and 29 cases of moderately to poorly differentiated carcinoma. On the basis of multifactor analysis, independent prognostic risk factors included residual tumor diameter larger than 1 cm and the presence of omentum metatastasis.[9]

Immunohistochemistry

Glucose transporter (GLUT1) immunostaining of fallopian tube adenocarcinoma was stronger and more extensive than staining of benign tubal epithelium. GLUT1 positivity is observed in regions most distal from stromal capillaries, suggesting hypoxia-driven GLUT1 induction. On average, GLUT1 staining in primary fallopian tube cancer was less extensive than in primary ovarian adenocarcinomas.[10]

Staging

Although the fallopian tubes are derived from the same embryonic structure as the uterus, histologically and clinically, malignant lesions of the fallopian tubes behave like ovarian tumors. Unlike ovarian tumors, 50% of fallopian tube tumors are stage I and II, whereas more than 50% of ovarian malignancies are usually in stage III and IV. Fallopian tube carcinomas have a predilection for metastasis to retroperitoneal lymph nodes in contrast to intraperitoneal spread of ovarian carcinomas.

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) fallopian tube cancer staging is as follows:

Stage 0 - Carcinoma in situ (limited to tubal mucosa)
Stage I - Growth limited to the fallopian tubes
Stage Ia - Growth limited to 1 tube, with extension into the submucosa and/or muscularis but not penetrating the serosal surface; no ascites
Stage Ib - Growth limited to both tubes with extension into the submucosa and/or muscularis but not penetrating the serosal surface; no ascites
Stage Ic - Tumor stage 1a or 1b but with tumor extension through or onto the tubal serosa, or with ascites present containing malignant cells, or with positive peritoneal washings
Stage II - Growth involving 1 or both fallopian tubes with pelvic extension
Stage IIa - Extension and/or metastasis to the uterus and/or ovaries
Stage IIb - Extension to other pelvic tissues
Stage IIc - Tumor stage IIa or IIb, with ascites present containing malignant cells, or with positive peritoneal washings
Stage III - Tumor involving 1 or both fallopian tubes, with peritoneal implants outside the pelvis and/or positive retroperitoneal or inguinal nodes; superficial liver metastasis equals stage III; tumor appears limited to true pelvis but has histologically proven malignant extension to the small bowel or omentum
Stage IIIa - Tumor grossly limited to the true pelvis, with negative nodes but with histologically confirmed microscopic seeding or abdominal peritoneal surfaces
Stage IIIb - Tumor involving 1 or both fallopian tubes, with histologically confirmed implants on abdominal peritoneal surfaces, none exceeding 2 cm in diameter; lymph node findings negative
Stage IIIc - Abdominal implants larger than 2 cm in diameter and/or positive retroperitoneal or inguinal nodes
Stage IV - Growth involving 1 or both fallopian tubes, with distant metastases; if pleural effusion is present, positive cytology results necessary to be stage IV; parenchymal liver metastases equal stage IV

Staging for fallopian tube carcinoma is via the surgical pathological system. Operative findings designating stage are determined before tumor debulking.

Modified FIGO staging for fallopian tube carcinoma is as follows:

Stage 0 - Carcinoma in situ (limited to tubal epithelium)
Stage I - Growth limited to tube
Stage IA - Growth limited to 1 fallopian tube, without extension through or onto serosa, ascites containing malignant cells, or positive peritoneal washings
Stage IA to 0b - Growth limited to 1 fallopian tube, with no extension into lamina propria
Stage IA to 1b - Growth limited to 1 fallopian tube, with extension into lamina propria but no extension into muscularis
Stage IA to 2b - Growth limited to 1 fallopian tube, with extension into muscularis
Stage IB - Growth limited to both fallopian tubes, without extension through or onto serosa, ascites containing malignant cells, or positive peritoneal washings
Stage IB to 0b - Growth limited to both fallopian tubes, with no extension into lamina propria
Stage IB to 1b - Growth limited to both fallopian tubes, with extension into lamina propria, but not extension into muscularis
Stage IB to 2b - Growth limited to both fallopian tubes, with extension into muscularis
Stage IC - Tumor either stage IA or IB, but with extension through or onto tubal serosa, with ascites containing malignant cells, or with positive peritoneal washings
Stage I(F) - Tumor limited to fimbriated end of fallopian tube(s), without invasion of tubal wall
Stage II - Tumor involving 1 or both fallopian tubes, with pelvic extension
Stage IIA - Extension and/or metastasis to uterus and/or ovaries
Stage IIB - Extension to other pelvic tissues
Stage IIC - Tumor either stage IIA or IIB, with ascites containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings
Stage III - Tumor involving 1 or both fallopian tubes, with peritoneal implants outside pelvis, including superficial liver metastasis, and/or positive retroperitoneal or inguinal nodes; tumor limited to pelvis except for histologically proven extension to small bowel or omentum
Stage IIIA - Tumor grossly limited to pelvis, with negative nodes but with histologically confirmed microscopic seeding of abdominal peritoneal surfaces
Stage IIIB - Tumor involves 1 or both fallopian tubes, with grossly visible histologically confirmed implants of abdominal peritoneal surfaces, none exceeding 2 cm in diameter; lymph node findings negative
Stage IIIC - Abdominal implants larger than 2 cm in diameter and/or positive retroperitoneal or inguinal nodes
Stage IV - Growth involving 1 or both fallopian tubes, with distant metastases, including parenchymal liver metastases; if pleural effusion present, fluid must be positive cytologically for malignant cells
Modification in terminology - Modifications to accommodate subsets of tumor that otherwise cannot be assigned a stage or to distinguish among subsets that may differ in their associated prognosis

Treatment

Medical Care

Medical care for fallopian tube and broad ligament malignancy depends on frozen section and pathology results, as summarized below.

Stage 0 - Carcinoma in situ

Negative cytology results: No further treatment

Positive cytology results: Intraperitoneal platin-based chemotherapy

Stage I

Negative cytology results: No treatment or short-term cisplatin therapy

Positive cytology results: Intraperitoneal cisplatin, but it is associated with more toxicity or short-term platin-based and taxol-based chemotherapy

Stage II-IV

Bulky residual disease or positive nodes: Three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy taxol-based and platinum-based, debulking followed by 3 more cycles of chemotherapy.

No residual disease, negative nodes: Six cycles of taxol-based and platin-based chemotherapy

Treatment of broad ligament malignancy is similar to that for fallopian tube malignancy except in young patients, in whom wide local excision can be adequate.

In a 2012 study, patupilone was not better than standard therapies in treating resistant cases of recurrent ovarian, tubal or primary peritoneal cancer.[11]

Consultations

Consider consultations with the following specialists:

Gynecologic oncologist
Medical oncologist
Surgical pathologist
Social worker

Surgical Care

Surgical care includes (1) total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, (2) omentectomy and peritoneal washing, and (3) selective pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

Patients usually are evaluated using the CA-125 assay to monitor response to therapy. If a rise in CA-125 is noted, investigations such as CT scan and laparoscopy can be performed. Any evidence of disease can be treated with chemotherapy, debulking surgery, or both.

Deterrence/Prevention

Carriers of the BRCA gene, especially BRCA2, are recommended to take oral contraceptive pills initially. Once childbearing is over, prophylactic bilateral salpingooherectomy is recommended.

Prognosis

Good prognostic factors are as follows:

Negative peritoneal cytology
No residual disease at primary cytoreductive surgery
Disease limited to the pelvis
Abnormal vaginal bleeding as a presenting symptom
Negative second look laparotomy

Poor prognostic factors are as follows:

Advanced stage of the disease
Absence of fimbriated end closure in stage 1 disease
The presence of a TP53 mutation

The presence or absence of invasion of tubal wall, the depth of invasion when present, and the location of the tumor within the tube (ie, fimbriated or nonfimbriated) are prognostic variables.

The presence of ascites and the patient's age do not seem to affect prognosis because the prognosis depends on the location of the tumor within the fallopian tube and the depth of invasion of tumor; therefore, Navani suggests modification of the FIGO staging system.

Author

Hetal B Gor, MD, FACOG Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Private Practice

Hetal B Gor, MD, FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

John Paulson, MD Clinical Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School; Professor of Clinical Obstetrics/Gynecology, Medical College of Virginia; Associate Director, Residency Program, Riverside Health System

John Paulson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, International College of Surgeons US Section

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Michel E Rivlin, MD Former Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Michel E Rivlin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Mississippi State Medical Association, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Warner K Huh, MD Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Senior Scientist, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama School of Medicine

Warner K Huh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Surgeons, Massachusetts Medical Society, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology

Disclosure: I have received consulting fees for: Merck; THEVAX.

Additional Contributors

Karen Loeb Lifford, MD Director of General Gynecology, Associate Program Director, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Instructor, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Karen Loeb Lifford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Orthmann EG. Primareskarzinom in Einertuberkulosen. Ztschr Geburtsh Gynaek. 1888. 15:212.
Gilks CB, Irving J, Kobel M, et al. Incidental Nonuterine High-grade Serous Carcinomas Arise in the Fallopian Tube in Most Cases: Further Evidence for the Tubal Origin of High-grade Serous Carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol. 2014 Dec 16. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Chay WY, McCluggage WG, Lee CH, Köbel M, Irving J, Millar J, et al. Outcomes of Incidental Fallopian Tube High-Grade Serous Carcinoma and Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma in Women at Low Risk of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2016 Mar. 26 (3):431-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Romaniuk A, Gyryavenko N, Lyndin M, Piddubnyi A, Sikora V, Korobchanska A. Primary cancer of the fallopian tubes: histological and immunohistochemical features. Folia Med Cracov. 2016. 56 (4):71-80. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
White EA, Kenny HA, Lengyel E. Three-dimensional modeling of ovarian cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014 Dec 15. 79-80C:184-192. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Eddie SL, Quartuccio SM, Zhu J, et al. Three-dimensional modeling of the human fallopian tube fimbriae. Gynecol Oncol. 2014 Dec 16. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Li SS, Ip CK, Tang MY, Sy SK, Yung S, Chan TM, et al. Modeling Ovarian Cancer Multicellular Spheroid Behavior in a Dynamic 3D Peritoneal Microdevice. J Vis Exp. 2017 Feb 18. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Madore WJ, De Montigny E, Deschênes A, Benboujja F, Leduc M, Mes-Masson AM, et al. Morphologic three-dimensional scanning of fallopian tubes to assist ovarian cancer diagnosis. J Biomed Opt. 2017 Jul 1. 22 (7):76012. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Ma Y, Duan W. Clinical and survival analysis of 36 cases of primary fallopian tube carcinoma. World J Surg Oncol. 2014 Oct 12. 12:311. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Kalir T, Rahaman J, Hagopian G, Demopoulos R, Cohen C, Burstein DE. Immunohistochemical detection of glucose transporter GLUT1 in benign and malignant fallopian tube epithelia, with comparison to ovarian carcinomas. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2005 May. 129(5):651-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Colombo N, Kutarska E, Dimopoulos M, Bae DS, Rzepka-Gorska I, Bidzinski M, et al. Randomized, Open-Label, Phase III Study Comparing Patupilone (EPO906) With Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin in Platinum-Refractory or -Resistant Patients With Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian, Primary Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Nov 1. 30(31):3841-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Alvarado-Cabrero I, Young RH, Vamvakas EC. Carcinoma of the fallopian tube: a clinicopathological study of 105 cases with observations on staging and prognostic factors. Gynecol Oncol. 1999 Mar. 72(3):367-79. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Aslani M, Scully RE. Primary carcinoma of the broad ligament. Report of four cases and review of the literature. Cancer. 1989 Oct 1. 64(7):1540-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Ben-Hur H, Dgani R, Ben-Arie A. Diagnostic dilemmas and current therapy of Fallopian tube cancer. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 1999. 20(2):108-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Berek J, Hacker N, eds. Practical Gynecologic Oncology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000. 546.
Danforth DN, Scott JR. Diseases of the ovary and fallopian tubes. Danforth DN, Scott JR, Di Saia PJ, Hammond CB, Spellacy WN, eds. Danforth's Obstetrics & Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Raven; 1999. 889.
Dieste MC, Lynch GR, Gordon A. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the broad ligament: a case report and literature review. Gynecol Oncol. 1987 Oct. 28(2):225-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Disaia PJ, Creasman WT. Fallopian tube cancer. Creasman WT, Doherty M, Disaia PJ, Dinh TV, Hannigan EV, eds. Clinical Gynecologic Oncology. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby-Year Book; 1997. 375-80.
Dunton CJ, Neufeld J. Complete response to topotecan of recurrent fallopian tube carcinoma. Gynecol Oncol. 2000 Jan. 76(1):128-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Fedele L, Cittadini E, Bortolozzi G. Successful in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer after limited surgical treatment for tubal adenocarcinoma. Cancer. 1989 Oct 1. 64(7):1546-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kurjak A, Kupesic S, Jacobs I. Preoperative diagnosis of the primary fallopian tube carcinoma by three- dimensional static and power Doppler sonography. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2000 Mar. 15(3):246-51. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Latner AL, Turner GA. Effect of aprotinin on immunological resistance in tumour-bearing animals. Br J Cancer. 1976 May. 33(5):535-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Loverro G, Cormio G, Renzulli G. Serous papillary cystadenoma of borderline malignancy of the broad ligament. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1997 Aug. 74(2):211-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Navani SS, Alvarado-Cabrero I, Young RH. Endometrioid carcinoma of the fallopian tube: a clinicopathologic analysis of 26 cases. Gynecol Oncol. 1996 Dec. 63(3):371-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Ricci JV. One Hundred Years of Gynecology. Philadelphia, Pa: Blackiston; 1945.
Rose PG, Shrigley R, Wiesner GL. Germline BRCA2 mutation in a patient with fallopian tube carcinoma: a case report. Gynecol Oncol. 2000 May. 77(2):319-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Rosen AC, Ausch C, Hafner E. A 15-year overview of management and prognosis in primary fallopian tube carcinoma. Austrian Cooperative Study Group for Fallopian Tube Carcinoma. Eur J Cancer. 1998 Oct. 34(11):1725-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Rosen AC, Ausch C, Klein M. p53 expression in fallopian tube carcinomas. Cancer Lett. 2000 Aug 1. 156(1):1-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].