Cancer Of Fallopian Tube

Overview

Cancer of fallopian tube is a type of cancer that develops in the tubes connecting the ovaries and the uterus. Primary fallopian tube tumour is very rare and often mistaken as ovarian cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

Abnormal vaginal bleeding particularly after menopause, Abnormal vaginal discharge that may contain blood, Swollen abdomen, Pelvic mass, Abdominal pain or feeling of pressure, Unintended weight loss, Loss of appetite, Fatigue

Common Causes

Family history of breast or ovarian cancer, Inherited gene mutation to BRCA gene, Chronic salpingitis, Genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Risk Factors

Increasing age, Caucasian women, Being overweight or obese, Chronic salpingitis, Women who have had no children or few children, Women who have never breastfed a child, Women who have never used oral contraceptive pills, Family history of breast or ovarian cancer, Inherited gene mutation to BRCA gene, Genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Investigation Techniques

Medical history, Pelvic examination, Blood tests to check the CA-125 levels, Abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound, Biopsy, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected area, Computerised tomography (CT) scan of the affected area, Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Treatment and Prevention

Surgery such as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, total hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy, omentectomy, and cytoreductive surgery, Chemotherapy using chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin and paclitaxel, Targeted therapy, Radiation therapy, Palliative care