Fallopian tube cancer

[exinilu]

Fallopian tube cancer develops in the tubes that lead from the ovaries to the uterus.

Most cancers that affect the fallopian tubes have spread from other parts of the body.
At first, women may have vague symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort or bloating, or no symptoms.
Computed tomography is done to check for abnormalities.
Usually, the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, adjacent lymph nodes, and surrounding tissues are removed, followed by chemotherapy.

(See also Overview of Female Reproductive System Cancers.)
In the United States, fewer than 1% of gynecologic cancers are fallopian tube cancers. Cancer that starts in the fallopian tubes is rare. Most cancers that affect the fallopian tubes originate elsewhere in the body.
Women are usually postmenopausal when fallopian tube cancer is diagnosed.
Risk factors for fallopian tube cancer include the following:

Older age
Long-term (chronic) inflammation of the fallopian tubes (chronic salpingitis)
Infertility

More than 95% of fallopian tube cancers are adenocarcinomas, which develop from gland cells. A few are sarcomas, which develop from connective tissue.
Fallopian tube cancer spreads in much the same way as ovarian cancer:

Usually directly to the surrounding area
Through the shedding of cancer cells into the abdominal cavity
Through the lymphatic system to other parts of the pelvis and abdomen and eventually to distant parts of the body