Abstract

Clinical interest in the fallopian tube continues to increase. Recent studies on the carcinogenesis and origin of ovarian carcinoma have suggested tubal epithelium as a source of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). The objective of this study is to compare the classical, sectioning and extensively examining the Fimbriated end protocol (SEE-FIM) in detecting microscopic lesions in fallopian tube with Gynaecological lesions. Materials and methods: From a total of 1282 cases, 662 with various parts of both fallopian tubes sampled in three-ring-shaped sections and 620 sampled with the SEE-FIM protocol were included in this study. Pathological findings of cases with endometrial carcinoma, ovarian serous carcinoma, ovarian borderline tumours, and benign lesions were compared. Results: We detected 1 tubal infiltrative carcinomas among 8 uterine endometrioid adenocarcinomas, 2 serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas in 4 non-uterine pelvic serous high-grade carcinoma cases, 4 papillary tubal hyperplasias in 8 serous borderline tumour cases, and 14 endometriotic foci and four adenomatoid tumours among all cases sampled with the SEE-FIM protocol. Using the classical method, we detected only 1 serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma in 10 non-uterine pelvic serous high-grade carcinoma cases and 1 papillary tubal hyperplasia cases in 23 serous borderline tumours. We did not identify additional findings in 10 uterine endometrioid carcinoma cases, and neither endometriotic foci nor adenomatoid tumour were shown in other lesions by the classical method. Conclusion: Benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions can possibly be missed using the classical method. The SEE-FIM protocol should be considered especially in cases of endometrial carcinoma, nonuterine pelvic serous cancers, or serous borderline ovarian tumors. For other lesions, at least a detailed examination of the fimbrial end should be undertaken.

Description