OBJECTIVE: Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tubes is one of the less common gynecological cancers. It constitutes (0.14-0.18%) of gynecological malignancies. Our study aimed to review the managing process of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tubes in the mono-center institute and to identify prognostic factors impacting survival. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study regarding patients with fallopian tube carcinoma treated between July 1991 and December 2005 was identified at the Tunisian anticancer institute “Salah Azaiez”. During this period, we have identified 17 patients. Data such as age, gravidity and parity, menopausal condition, symptoms reported by the patient on presentation, adjuvant therapy, stage of illness, surgical intervention, pathological findings, tumor recurrence, and previous surgical procedures were obtained from the patients’ reports. RESULTS: The average age at the time of diagnosis was 58 years. Fourteen of the included patients were postmenopausal. Surgery was the initial therapy for 15 patients. Optimal cytoreductive surgery was achievable in seven patients with no residual tumors. Histologic examination revealed that serous adenocarcinoma type was the predominant type. Two were in stage I and, four were in stage II; seven were in stage III and four in stage IV. The median follow-up time was 24 months. At the time of the final analysis, 11 patients died of disease. 5-year OS, DFS was 21% and 37% respectively. In our study, only the residual tumor was a significant prognostic factor predicting survival. CONCLUSION: Complete optimal surgery with no residual tumor was the main goal of the surgeon to improved survival in primary fallopian tube carcinoma.

ResultsThe mean age was 48.8 years. The average delay of consulting was 12.3 months. A breast lump palpation was the chief complaint (97% of cases). The mean tumor size was 12.3 cm. Seventeen patients (94.4%) underwent mastectomy and one patient underwent wide lumpectomy. Adjuvant radiotherapy was done in 13 cases (72.2%), while chemotherapy was administrated to 5 patients (27.7%). After a follow-up ranging from 4 to 124 months, 5 patients (27.7%) developed local recurrences and 6 patients (33.3%) developed distant metastases. The median overall survival was 10 months and the median disease-free survival was 7 months. An analytical study of the parameters age, tumor size, mammographic appearance, presence or absence of metastases and local recurrences showed no correlation with the histological subtype (p> 0.05). In univariate analysis, the identified overall survival prognostic factors were surgical margins <1 cm (p = 0.005) and tumor necrosis (p = 0.028).Conclusions Phyllode breast sarcomas are rare tumors. The therapeutic approach is not well codified. Multicenter studies are needed to establish an optimal therapeutic strategy.

Results The mean age was 48.8 years. The average delay of consulting was 12.3 months. A breast lump palpation was the chief complaint (97% of cases). The mean tumor size was 12.3 cm. Seventeen patients (94.4%) underwent mastectomy and one patient underwent wide lumpectomy. Adjuvant radiotherapy was done in 13 cases (72.2%), while chemotherapy was administrated to 5 patients (27.7%). After a follow-up ranging from 4 to 124 months, 5 patients (27.7%) developed local recurrences and 6 patients (33.3%) developed distant metastases. The median overall survival was 10 months and the median disease-free survival was 7 months. An analytical study of the parameters age, tumor size, mammographic appearance, presence or absence of metastases and local recurrences showed no correlation with the histological subtype (p> 0.05). In univariate analysis, the identified overall survival prognostic factors were surgical margins <1 cm (p = 0.005) and tumor necrosis (p = 0.028). Conclusions Phyllode breast sarcomas are rare tumors. The therapeutic approach is not well codified. Multicenter studies are needed to establish an optimal therapeutic strategy.