Germline BRCA2 mutation in a patient with fallopian tube carcinoma: a case report.

OBJECTIVES

Fallopian tube carcinoma is similar to ovarian and peritoneal carcinoma with respect to histology, response to chemotherapy, and prognosis. BRCA germline mutations have been commonly reported in ovarian and peritoneal carcinoma but rarely in other gynecologic cancers.

METHODS

A patient with fallopian tube carcinoma and a family history of ovarian carcinoma underwent genetic counseling and BRCA testing as did her daughter.

RESULTS

The patient and her daughter were found to have a germline BRCA2 mutation.

CONCLUSION

Like a family history of ovarian or peritoneal carcinoma, the occurrence of fallopian tube cancer should alert the clinician to the possibility of an abnormality in the breast cancer susceptibility 1 or 2 genes.