A case of primary tubal carcinoma in situ with peritoneal dissemination diagnosed with endometrial cytology followed by laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

Background : Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is a rare gynecologic malignancy, the accurate preoperative diagnosis of which is difficult. We report herein on a case of primary tubal carcinoma in situ with peritoneal disseminations.
Case : A 78-year-old woman was noted to have massive ascites and underwent cytodiagnosis of the ascites which revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma cells. She had suffered from breast cancer 7 years previously. However, it was difficult to determine the primary site of the malignant cells. The appearance of solitary malignant cells and small malignant clusters without diathesis was the specific feature of endometrial cytology in ovarian and fallopian tube cancer. We undertook laparoscopic surgery and diagnosed the lesion as a primary tubal carcinoma in situ.
Conclusion : Cytologic examination in combination with laparoscopic surgery was helpful in the diagnosis of primary tubal carcinoma.