[Can be considered the primary fallopian tube cancer an enigma at the beginning of the third millenium?].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze differences between primary fallopian tube cancer and ovarian cancer.

DESIGN

Overview study.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Hradec Kralove.

METHODS

Overview study focused on analysis of data of primary fallopian tube cancer.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of primary fallopian tube cancer was thought to be very low in the past but it is very difficult to assess the primary origin in the case of advanced disease (ovary versus fallopian tube). Tumorogenic potential of endosalpinx in relation to epithelial tumours is much more bigger. According to the current knowledge, the vast majority of high-grade serous carcinomas of the "ovary" in fact arise in the mucosa of fimbrial portion of fallopian tube.