What is Fallopian Tube Adenocarcinoma?
Fallopian tube adenocarcinoma is a rare type of cancer that accounts for approximately 0.14% to 1.8% of all types of female genital cancers. The five-year survival rate ranges from 68% to 76%. It typically affects women between the ages of 60 and 64, with the peak likelihood of developing fallopian tube adenocarcinoma at age 55. Adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube tends to spread to the other distant parts of the body particularly it can spread to the surrounding lymph nodes of the aorta.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause, but certain risk factors such as nulliparity (a woman who has never given birth to a child), infertility, and pelvic inflammatory disease are the risk factor for fallopian tube adenocarcinoma.Signs and Symptoms
- Abnormal bleeding from the vagina (bleeding between the two menstrual periods)
- Water like discharge from the vagina
- Pain in the lower part of the abdomen
- Abdominal mass or tumour
Diagnosis
Following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make the diagnosis. These are- Complete blood count ( CBC)
- Serum tumour markers particularly serum CA 125
- Imaging techniques like transvaginal ultrasonography (USG), CT-scan, MRI, and X-Ray to detect the site, size, and extent of the tumour.
- Pelvic examination through per- speculum examination of the vagina, cervix, and ovaries. A speculum is a gynecological instrument used to visualize the vaginal wall, cervix, uterus, and ovaries to detect any abnormality.