Fallopian Tube Cancer

Fallopian tube cancer begins in a woman’s fallopian tubes, the small ducts that link a woman’s ovaries to her uterus. The fallopian tubes are part of a woman’s reproductive system. Every woman has two fallopian tubes, one located on each side of the uterus.

Fallopian tube cancer begins when normal cells in one or both fallopian tubes change and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous, meaning it can spread to other parts of the body).

Cancer can begin in any of the different cell types that make up the fallopian tubes. The most common type is adenocarcinoma (a cancer of cells from glands). Leiomyosarcoma (a cancer of smooth muscle cells) and transitional cell carcinoma (a cancer of the cells lining the fallopian tubes) are less common.     

Find out more about basic cancer terms used in this section.

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