Primary Carcinoma of the Fallopian Tube and Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma: A Case Control Analysis

Abstract

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube (PCFT) has been traditionally assessed and treated following epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) guidelines despite the paucity of supporting data. A previous population-based study reported a better prognosis for PCFT, but no case match data has been published evaluating clinical parameters and outcomes. To analyze clinical similarities and differences between women with PCFT and EOC in case control fashion, the investigators examined records in the tumor registry database of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics from 1991 to 2001. Cases of PCFT were matched with EOC controls according to the chronology of diagnosis. Each case of PCFT was matched with the next two cases of EOC with an 1-year limit for finding the closest match. Priority was given to stage of disease and histological grade, followed by histology. Twenty-eight cases of PCFT were matched with 56 cases of EOC. PCFT patients were 7 years older at diagnosis than the EOC patients (mean age, 67 versus 60 years, P = .005). No significant differences between the two diseases were found in the prediagnosis use of oral contraceptives (P = .38); body mass index (P = .5); percentage of positive nodes (P = .19); or survival based on Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = .5). The investigators conclude that the apparent lack of differences between PCFT and EOC in clinical parameters or survival indicates that PCFT should be treated according to protocols designed for EOC.