Fallopian tube carcinoma: incidental finding during surgery for acute pelvic inflammatory disease--case report.

BACKGROUND

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is a rare condition. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult and in most cases it is an intraoperative finding or a histopathological diagnosis.

CASE: A 49-year-old woman presented with pelvic pain, fever (38 degrees C), elevated white blood cell count and a right adnexal mass. Pelvic inflammatory disease was suspected and broad spectrum antibiotics were established. Five days later, due to lack of clinical response, a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and appendectomy were performed. Histopathology showed a primary fallopian tube carcinoma. Postoperatively she received chemotherapy. Afterwards she underwent a staging laparotomy. Some months later, new chemotherapy regimens were instituted because of the presence of lymph node metastases.

CONCLUSION

Malignancy should be included in the differential diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease.