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A case of ectopic pancreas in the fallopian tube is reported. This small, polypoid, benign tumor was in a fallopian tube contralateral to a ruptured tubal pregnancy. The patient had a tubal ligation performed six years previously. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of isolated ectopic pancreas in a fallopian tube. No explanation is offered for the pathogenesis of this lesion.
Fifteen fallopian tubes in which a previous ipsilateral eccyesis was managed by conservative surgical techniques were examined. The condition of the tube relative to the previous surgical management and the resolution of the previous implantation sites were correlated with the recurrent tubal pregnancy. All previous incisions were identified and all were well-healed, except for one fistula. Residual histologic evidence was present in only five of 16 previous implantation sites. The recurrent eccyeses were related to previous surgical management in only three women, two after anastomosis and one because of inadvertent obstruction of the tube. The cases of tubal obstruction and tuboperitoneal fistula formation were thought to reflect a lack of understanding of the pathologic changes associated with tubal pregnancy during conservative surgery. The previous tubal incision sites were all remarkably well-healed regardless of whether they were primarily closed or left open, and independent of location. Infundibular or fimbrial "milk-outs" were without histologic evidence of damage. The underlying tubal disease (chronic salpingitis, follicular salpingitis, or salpingitis isthmica nodosa) seems to be the major factor identified that is associated with, and probably the cause for, the recurrent tubal gestation.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An experimental model consisting of gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture has proven useful in studying the molecular pathogenesis of acute gonococcal salpingitis and postsalpingitis sequelae. Gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture results in the sloughing of ciliated epithelial cells from the mucosa. This damage to the mucosa can be quantified on fallopian tube pieces by an assay of the percent of the periphery that has ciliary activity (PPCA) remaining at specific time points after infection. Although assay of the PPCA has been quite valuable, it is labor-intensive, somewhat subjective, and requires that the observers have training and experience. A more practical assay for genital mucosal damage is desirable for further investigations that employ the fallopian tube experimental model. Gonococcal infection of fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture also results in the production of easily quantified tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by the mucosa. Furthermore, treatment of the organ cultures with recombinant human TNF-alpha (rHuTNFalpha) alone also causes sloughing of ciliated cells from the mucosa. These findings strongly suggest that TNF-alpha is a mediator of the mucosal damage that attends gonococcal infection. GOALS OF THE STUDY: To determine: (1) whether the PPCA values and the TNF-alpha concentrations in fallopian tube mucosal tissues correlate closely enough to allow prediction of the PPCA from a measurement of the mucosal tissue TNF-alpha concentration; and (2) whether the correlation of the TNF-alpha mucosal tissue concentration with the sloughing of ciliated cells (measured by the PPCA) supports the hypothesis that induction of TNF-alpha by gonococcal infection, with resultant sloughing of ciliated cells, is likely to be a major pathogenic mechanism of gonococcal salpingitis and might mediate postsalpingitis infertility and ectopic pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A metaanalysis was performed on studies from three research groups (two laboratories in the United States and one in the United Kingdom, using identical techniques for quantifying the PPCA, TNF-alpha, or both. RESULTS: There was a close and statistically significant correlation between the TNF-alpha mucosal tissue concentration and the proportion of ciliated cells lost from the mucosa as measured by the PPCA (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). Therefore, as the mucosal tissue concentration of endogenous TNF-alpha increased, the loss of ciliated cells from the epithelium increased proportionately. CONCLUSIONS: During gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture, the mucosal tissue concentration of TNF-alpha can be used to predict the PPCA, and therefore, the extent of mucosal damage. This finding should facilitate studies of the molecular pathogenesis of infectious diseases involving human genital mucosa. Further, the close correlation of mucosal TNF-alpha concentration with genital mucosal damage, evaluated by the PPCA, supports the hypothesis that induction of the proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-alpha, by gonococcal infection, with resultant inflammation and sloughing of ciliated cells, is an important pathogenic mechanism of gonococcal salpingitis and may mediate postsalpingitis infertility and ectopic pregnancy as well.
31 cases of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube from 1960 to 1976 are reported. All these patients underwent operative treatment at the 1st University Clinic of obstetrics and gynaecology of Vienna. 8 out of 23 patients survived for more than 5 years. The evident advantage of a complete operation with post operative telecobalt radiotherapy for the results of 5-years-survival is shown. The possibility and necessity of prophylaxis of carcinoma of the fallopian tube by extirpation of both fallopian tubes in any case of hysterectomy are emphasized.
The efficacy of transcervical recanalization of obstructed postoperative Fallopian tubes was evaluated in 29 patients who were referred for recanalization. Nineteen had strictures at the site of Fallopian tube reconstruction, and five had strictures, three had fistulae, and two had fistulae and strictures at the site of reversal surgery. A 0.014-inch highly flexible guidewire was passed through the obstruction into the ampullary segment, followed by a 1. 1-2.2 Fr bougie catheter to dilate the stricture. After recanalization, the distal tube was studied by selective salpingography. The method was technically successful in 17 of 19 patients with underlying inflammatory disease and resultant postoperative strictures. The tubes remained patent in 12 patients for a period of 12-48 months; three patients conceived, all delivering healthy babies. Significant disease of the distal tubes was present in seven patients. The technique succeeded in three of five patients with postoperative strictures following reversal surgery. One patient subsequently conceived and delivered a healthy baby. The technique failed in all five patients with fistulae complicating reversal surgery. Transcervical recanalization is thus recommended in the management of patients with postoperative strictures with underlying inflammatory obstruction and strictures complicating reversal surgery.
The ciliary activity of human fallopian tube epithelium was studied in vitro by using a technique which included registration of the light reflections from the mucociliary waves on the epithelial surface. In all registrations, the mucociliary waves moved toward the uterine end of the specimen. The frequencies of the reflections of the mucociliary waves ranged between 960 and 1368 cpm, with a mean of 1191 cpm (2 SD, +/- 176) and a median of 1210 cpm. Significant differences in the mucociliary wave frequencies were not observed between different parts of the fallopian tube nor between registrations performed during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Scanning electron microscopy of the specimens revealed no morphologic changes of the cilia during the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative efficacy of a new system for fallopian tube sperm perfusion in comparison with standard IUI in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles. DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Ovulation induction program of a tertiary outpatient care center, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France. PATIENTS: We studied 74 infertile women aged 20 to 38 years undergoing 100 cycles of COH from December 1993 to May 1994 only excluding cases of age > 38 years, obstructed or severely damaged fallopian tubes, E2 levels per mature follicle < 250 pg/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 3.671) on the day of hCG administration, spontaneous LH surge, and cases of marked sperm abnormalities. INTERVENTIONS: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was achieved using three types of ovarian stimulation protocols: clomiphene citrate (CC) and hMG (n = 35). hMG alone (n = 35) or GnRH agonist and FSH and hMG (n = 30). Thirty-six hours after hCG administration, patients were assigned randomly to either IUI (group A, n = 50) or fallopian tube sperm perfusion (group B, n = 50). Intrauterine insemination was performed with 0.2 mL of sperm suspension according to a standard technique. Fallopian tube sperm perfusion was performed using a simple and reliable system that ensures a good cervical seal and allows to a pressurized injection of 4 mL of sperm suspension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility of the fallopian tube sperm perfusion method, clinical pregnancy (presence of gestational sac with heart beats at 6 weeks of amenorrhea), and ongoing pregnancy rates (PRs) (> 12 weeks of amenorrhea), incidence of complications (multiple pregnancies and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome [OHSS]). RESULTS: Overall, the new fallopian tube sperm perfusion system was simple to handle and well tolerated by patients. In group A, we observed 10 clinical pregnancies (20% per cycle) of which 7 were ongoing (14%). In group B, 20 clinical pregnancies (40% per cycle) of which 17 ongoing pregnancies (34%) were obtained. These differences were statistically significant. The prevalence of twin and three or more sac pregnancies was similar in the two groups (3/10 and 0/10, respectively, in group A, and 5/20 and 2/20, respectively, in group B). No case of moderate or severe OHSS was observed in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the new system for fallopian tube sperm perfusion is not only simple and reliable but also may lead to PRs twice as high as standard IUI in COH cycles.
Primary malignant neoplasms of the fallopian tube are the least common of all the gynecologic malignancies, and constitute only about 0.1-1% of all such malignancies. The actual 5-year survival is 64% in those with stage I, 60% in cases of stage II, and 18% and 25% for stages III and IV, respectively. Therefore, early detection of these neoplasm stages is most important to attain a cure. The preoperative diagnosis of this neoplasm has rarely been reported because these lesions are not common. We present herein the clinical and sonographic features in 4 Japanese women with fallopian tube carcinoma. While the sonographic features alone are not distinct enough to establish a definite preoperative diagnosis, the findings as seen in our patients suggest inclusion of tubal carcinoma in the differential diagnosis.
Experimental substitution of a long segment of ureter by a fallopian tube was performed in dogs. Three different techniques of proximal and distal anastomosis for reconstruction of the urinary tract were used in three groups of animals. Based on this, it is believed that the fallopian tube, as a pedicle graft, could serve in female dogs as the most approximate ideal substitute for ureter because of (a) anatomic proximity to the ureter permitting blood supply to the tube, (b) the fallopian tube's mucosa lining is not affected by urinary excretions, (c) does not allow absorption of electrocytes, (d) has a muscular wall with peristaltic activity, and (e) avoids the problems of antigenicity and/or foreign body reaction.
Anatomic demonstration of a specific midcycle fallopian tube secretion has been sought by transmission electron microscopy in the Macaca mulatta fascicularis with a method of in vivo perfusion-fixation that includes the polycation alcian blue (plus glutaraldehyde) to precipitate and stabilize anionic extracellular secreted glycoproteins. Of nine monkeys entered into the study, six ovulated regularly. With the help of daily plasma total estrogen radioimmunoassays and serial laparoscopies, these six monkeys were killed and the pelvic organs were perfused at specific times in the menstrual cycle: the midfollicular phase (one), during the midcycle estrogen peak immediately before ovulation (one), 24 hours after ovulation (one), 2 to 4 days after ovulation (two), and premenstrually (one). The other three monkeys were oophorectomized and were treated with estradiol benzoate, 10 micrograms/kg/day for 7 days (two), or with estradiol benzoate, 10 micrograms/kg/day for 7 days, and progesterone in oil, 1 mg/kg/day from day 3 to day 7. Evenly distributed, granular, precipitated material was found in the isthmic lumen both immediately before and 24 hours after ovulation (and in the two oophorectomized, estrogen-treated monkeys, both of which had plasma total estrogen levels that exceeded those of preovulatory monkeys); this would coincide with times of sperm ascent through the isthmus, ovulation, and fertilization and with the time of temporary impedance of the ovum's normal transport to the uterus, known to occur at the ampullary-isthmic junction. No substantial precipitable secretion was found in the ampulla at any stage of the cycle, in the isthmus before the midcycle estrogen rise, or 48 hours or more after either ovulation or initiation of progesterone treatment. These observations indicate that, in the primate fallopian tube, the unique ability of the isthmus to transport spermatozoa and ova in opposite directions sequentially is related temporally (and perhaps causally) to the presence and absence, respectively, of specific isthmic luminal secretions. The biochemical basis for this isthmic property may lie in the expected highly expanded state of acid mucus glycoproteins in the secretions.
The present study investigates the effect of different endocrine manipulations on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system in the rat fallopian tube. Either hypophysectomy or ovariectomy induced a significant decrease of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity and of GABA levels in in situ tubes. This effect was completely reversed by either gonadotropins or combined estrogen-progesterone administration, respectively. Estrogen or progesterone alone proved less effective than the administration of both steroids in counteracting the effect of ovariectomy on GAD activity. The in vitro incubation of ovariectomized rat fallopian tubes with estrogen-progesterone for 1 h failed to counteract the reduction of the GAd activity induced by surgical manipulation. The in vivo effect of estrogen-progesterone administration on the GABA-ergic system seems to be specific since steroid treatment induced the synthesis of an enzyme which was immunologically identical to the GAD present in the fallopian tube and brain of normal diestrous rat. Autotransplantation of the fallopian tube under the skin brought about a decrease of GAD activity similar to that obtained after ovariectomy. In this situation, however, estrogen-progesterone administration did not counteract the decrease of GAD activity induced by fallopian tube deafferentation. The present results demonstrate that an interaction between the GABA-ergic system and the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis seems to be operative at the level of the rat fallopian tube. However, the physiological meaning of this interrelationship between the endocrine and the peripheral nervous systems remains to be clarified.
DNA ploidy has been studied in 61 primary fallopian tube carcinomas using image-cytometry. The investigation also included survival analysis, and ploidy classification according to AUER was performed in order to evaluate its prognostic impact for fallopian tube carcinoma. A high number of aneuploid cases were observed (79% aneuploid vs. 21% euploid tumors). The high incidence of aneuploid tumors was consistently observed among all FIGO-stages as well as all groups of histologic grading. There was no correlation between ploidy and FIGO-stage or histologic grading. Patients with euploid DNA content showed a median survival of 34 months compared to 24 months for aneuploid cases (log-rank, P = 0.83). No correlation between the AUER classification and FIGO-stage or histologic grading could be observed. Tumors with an AUER type I and II (75th quantile 41 months) showed a better outcome than tumors with AUER III and IV (75th quantile 19 months). Although these results did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.07), a trend could be observed. Therefore AUER classification may be useful as an objective prognostic parameter. The high incidence of aneuploid tumors could be an expression of the high biologic aggressiveness of primary fallopian tube cancer which has been repeatedly mentioned in the past.
Mucinous lesions of the fallopian tube mucosa are extremely rare and are of interest because of their association with other mucinous lesions of the female genital tract and with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Seven women with mucinous lesions of the fallopian tube were studied. Three had mucinous metaplasia alone, two had mucinous cystadenomas, one had bilateral mucinous neoplasms resembling ovarian mucinous tumors of low malignant potential, and one had mucinous adenocarcinoma in situ. Two patients had Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Five patients had two or more mucinous lesions, and two of these patients had multiple in situ or invasive adenocarcinomas involving the genital tract. One patient had a mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix 12 years prior. Although it is difficult to be certain that these lesions are not metastatic, the view that these are primary lesions of the tubal mucosa is favored. Mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the fallopian tube may be markers for multifocal mucinous neoplasia.
Isolated torsion of the Fallopian tube is an uncommon condition. It occurs at all ages, though most frequently at the menstruating age, in normal as well as diseased tubes, in pregnancy and even after tubal sterilization. A cases is reported and the symptoms, differential diagnoses, etiology and diagnostic procedures are discussed. Early diagnosis and treatment is necessary if a twisted tube or a part of it is to be preserved; especially early laparoscopy may be a momentous diagnostic tool in these cases.
Isolated torsion of the fallopian tube is a rare gynecologic condition that is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We present the sonographic and CT findings over a 48-hour period in a case of isolated torsion of the fallopian tube. The radiologic features of isolated torsion have been described previously; however, to our knowledge, the progressive findings have not been previously reported.
Fallopian tube obstruction is one of the most difficult problems in the treatment of infertility. This report gives the results of a pilot study on the transcervical recanalization of the occlusive fallopian tube. Selective catheterization of the uterine cornu was applied through a balloon catheter, which was wedged at the internal uterine os. In 16 occlusive fallopian tubes of 11 cases, the catheterization procedure was attempted and accomplished with a 87.5% success rate. Recanalization was successful in 75.0% of the affected tubes. Subsequent pregnancy was confirmed in three cases. This convenient technique is safe and effective and it will be accepted as the first choice in the diagnosis and treatment of fallopian tube obstruction.
Primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube is a rare neoplasm that constitutes less than 1% of gynecologic malignancies. Although the triad of menorrhagia, leukorrhea, and pain is said to be pathognomonic, preoperative diagnosis of this lesion is most unusual. The radiographic appearance at hysterosalpingography has only rarely been described in the English literature previously. This therefore is an unusual documentation of the preoperative appearance of fallopian adenocarcinoma by hysterosalpingography and sonography.
The first reported case of primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the fallopian tube is presented. Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube and adenosquamous lesions of the endometrium and ovary are discussed. The aggressive potential and increasing frequency of adenosquamous carcinoma in the female genital tract are emphasized.