Incidental fallopian tube mesothelioma diagnosed at time of elective bilateral salpingectomy for sterilisation: A case report

Our plain-English summary of Incidental fallopian tube mesothelioma diagnosed at time of elective bilateral salpingectomy for sterilisation: A case report, by J. Phillips-Yelland, D. Payton, R. Land, et al (Gynecologic Oncology Reports, 2017).

The study

• Authors: J. Phillips-Yelland, D. Payton, R. Land, A. Kaur
• Journal: Gynecologic Oncology Reports
• Published: 2017;22:1-3
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 2 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

•Incidental finding of a fallopian tube lesion at the time of bilateral salpingectomy•Histopathological appearance not consistent with mucinous or serous carcinoma, appearance of mesothelioma•Very rare known primary neoplasm of tubal mesothelium, favours an indolent course•Recommendation for prophylactic hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy•If nil further spread, generally nil further treatment is required.

In plain English

This was a case report about one woman, aged 42, who had both fallopian tubes removed by keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery for permanent sterilisation. No asbestos exposure was identified. The tubes looked normal during surgery, but laboratory examination found a white nodule measuring 10 × 6 mm next to the end of the left fallopian tube. Pathologists regarded the lesion as benign and of mesothelial origin, though not typical of a well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum. After expert opinions were obtained, it was diagnosed as a localised mesothelioma. The patient then had the uterus and both ovaries removed, and these showed no mesothelioma. The authors identified no specific risk factor in this patient. Their literature review found no cases of malignant mesothelioma arising from a fallopian tube. The authors concluded that, until more is known about how these tumours behave, a conservative approach of removing the uterus and ovaries may be safest.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: case report (single patient), with a brief literature review of earlier fallopian tube mesothelioma cases
• Who was studied: one 42-year-old woman who had elective laparoscopic removal of both fallopian tubes for sterilisation; the authors are from hospitals in Queensland, Australia
• Exposure: No asbestos exposure was identified. The authors also reported no other pollutant exposure, no previous radiation and no endometriosis.
• Main results:
  • The tubes and the abdominal lining looked normal during surgery.
  • Laboratory examination found a white nodule measuring 10 × 6 mm next to the fimbriae (end) of the left fallopian tube.
  • The lesion showed a low proliferative (cell growth) index, Ki67 less than 5%.
  • The lesion was regarded as benign and of mesothelial origin, but not typical of a well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum.
  • After expert opinions were obtained, a diagnosis of localised mesothelioma was made.
  • The tumour cells retained expression of BAP1, a tumour suppressor protein.
  • The uterus and ovaries were later removed. The uterus was normal apart from two fibroids, the ovaries were normal, and no mesothelioma was found.
  • In the authors' literature review, no cases of malignant mesothelioma arising from a fallopian tube were found.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that, until more is known about the natural history of fallopian tube mesotheliomas, a conservative approach may be safest: total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, with consideration of pelvic washings.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Mesothelioma, Bilateral, Carcinoma, Neoplasm, Mesothelium.

Related studies

• Nongynecologic metastases to fallopian tube mucosa: a potential mimic of tubal high-grade serous carcinoma and benign tubal mucinous metaplasia or nonmucinous hyperplasia — J.T. Rabban, P. Vohra, et al. (2015)
• Correlation of asbestos fiber burdens in fallopian tubes and ovarian tissue — D.S. Heller, R.E. Gordon, et al. (1999)
• Fallopian Tube Neoplasia and Mimics — D.L. Kolin, M.R. Nucci (2019)
• Development patterns in "adenomatoid lesions" of the fallopian tube — C.J. Pauerstein, J.D. Woodruff, et al. (1968)
• Clinically occult primary fallopian tube carcinoma presenting as a malignant pleural effusion — R. Hiensch, K. Meinhof, et al. (2017)
• Impact of Hospital Volume on Outcomes of Elective Pneumonectomy in the United States — J. Hadaya, V. Dobaria, et al. (2020)

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