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Abstract
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the histological patterns in the various pathological lesions of the fallopian tube. Histology slides of200 gynaecological specimens containing one or both the fallopian tubes were studied retrospectively and the morphological patterns observed in different tubal pathologies were documented. Tubal pathology was observed in 31% (62/200) of the cases studied. Salpingitis, accounting for 12% (24/200) of the cases was the most common lesion followed by ectopic tubal gestation (10.5%), paratubal cysts (4%), haematosalpinx (1.5%), endometriosis (1%) and torsion of the tube (1%) in decreasing order of frequency. No primary neoplasm of the fallopian tube was observed, however, there were two cases of secondary involvement of the tube by a dysgerminoma ovary and a squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix respectively. Fallopian tubes are primarily involved by inflammatory pathology which manifests either as infertility or as ectopic tubal pregnancy. Recently, the fimbrial end of the tube has been recognized as the site of origin of high grade serous ovarian and peritoneal cancers. Hence, a thorough examination of the fallopian tubes in each gynaecologic specimen is essential for early detection and treatment of these conditions.
Key Words
Fallopian Tube, Salpingitis, Ectopic Tubal Pregnancy, High Grade Serous Carcinoma
Introduction
The fallopian tubes are paired hollow structures that run throughout the apex of the broad ligament, spanning the distance between the uterine cornua and the ovaries. They vary in length from 7-12 cm and their function includes ovum pick-up, provision of physical environment for conception and transport and nourishment of the fertilized ovum (1). The fallopian tubes should be treasured organs to the pathology student because they are so seldom the site of primary disease. Their most common afflictions are inflammation, almost always as part of pelvic inflammatory disease. Much less often they are affected by ectopic tubal pregnancy followed in order of frequency by endometriosis and the rare primary tumours (2). Surgical specimens removed specifically for lesions of the fallopian tube are much less common than specimens from other sites in the gynaecologic tract; nonetheless, the fallopian tube is frequently examined by the surgical pathologist because it accompanies specimens removed for lesions of other gynaecologic organs, and also because the tube plays an important role in reproduction, including problems...