Overview

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 a part of a woman’s reproductive system and every woman has two fallopian tubes, one located on each side of the uterus.

Fallopian tube cancer begins when 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 may begin in any of the different cell types that make up the fallopian tubes, and 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.

As a tumor in the fallopian tube grows, it can push against the walls of the tube and cause abdominal pain. If untreated, the cancer can spread into and through the walls of the fallopian tubes and eventually into the pelvis (lower abdomen) and stomach areas.

Statistics

Fallopian tube cancer is rare, accounting for about 1% of all cancers of a woman’s reproductive system. It is more common for other cancers to spread to the fallopian tubes rather than for cancer to begin there. For example, the fallopian tubes are a common site of metastasis (spread) of cancers that started in the ovaries, uterus, endometrium, appendix, or colon.

If detected early, fallopian tube cancer can often be successfully treated. At its earliest stage, where the cancer is only in the lining of the fallopian tube, the five-year relative survival rate (the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) is 95%. The relative survival rate decreases as the cancer spreads. If cancer has spread to the walls of the fallopian tube, the five-year relative survival rate is about 75%; if it has spread outside of the fallopian tube the five-year relative survival rate is 45%.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a woman how long she will live with fallopian tube cancer. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer.

Source: Oncolink, The University of Pennsylvania.

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