A pathologist's road map to benign, precancerous, and malignant intraepithelial proliferations in the fallopian tube

Adv Anat Pathol. 2010 Sep;17(5):293-302. doi: 10.1097/PAP.0b013e3181ecdee1.

Abstract

The fallopian tube has recently emerged as an important site of origin for not only early serous cancer in women with inherited mutations in BRCA1/BRCA2 but as a source of many pelvic serous carcinomas. With this increased attention has come the inevitable need to sort out what epithelial abnormalities are clinically important and how they should be reported by the practicing pathologist. This review addresses 4 categories of tubal epithelial change: (1) metaplasias; (2) nonmalignant atypias; (3) potential precursors, including secretory cell outgrowths and p53 signatures; and (4) tubal intraepithelial carcinomas. A modified protocol for sectioning the fallopian tube (SEE-FIM) is discussed and each of the above topics is covered in the context of its differential diagnosis and recommendations for reporting are included. Finally, the rationale for close inspection of the tube, both in presumed benign and malignant disease, is discussed, with reference to an ongoing multi-institutional web-based project (Pelvic-ovarian Cancer Interception project).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenofibroma / metabolism
  • Adenofibroma / pathology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma in Situ / metabolism
  • Carcinoma in Situ / pathology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Fallopian Tubes / metabolism
  • Fallopian Tubes / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Metaplasia
  • Precancerous Conditions / metabolism
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53