Does the fimbria have an embryologic origin distinct from that of the rest of the fallopian tube?

OBJECTIVE

To propose a new theory describing the development of the fallopian tube fimbria.

DESIGN

Case series report.

SETTING

Metropolitan tertiary care children's hospital.

PATIENT(S): Two girls, aged 12 and 20 years, who presented with pelvic pain.

INTERVENTION(S): Magnetic resonance imaging, laparoscopy with salpingectomy, and pathologic analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Description of a novel theory regarding the embryologic development of the fallopian tube and its fimbria.

RESULT(S): In two non-sexually active girls the cause of their pelvic pain was found to be a hydrosalpinx associated with a discontinuous fallopian tube in which the fimbriated end did not directly communicate with the remainder of the fallopian tube.

CONCLUSION(S): The two cases of pure congenital fallopian tube atresia, the presence of fimbriae in patients with müllerian (uterine, cervical, and vaginal) agenesis, and the role of the fimbria in ovarian-like and peritoneal cancers, support a novel hypothesis that the fimbria of the fallopian tube may arise separately from the rest of the tube.