HISTOPATHOLOGIC FEATURES OF INCIDENTAL SALPINGECTOMY SPECIMENS IN ENUGU

Abstract

Background: In recent times, the fallopian tube has come under intense scrutiny and scientific investigation as efforts are made to clearly define its role in the pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian neoplasms. Most researches on the subject were done in the western countries thus data on the fallopian tube is lacking in Nigerian and African populations.
Aim and Objectives: The study was undertaken to identify and analyse the spectrum of histopathological lesions in Incidental Salpingectomy specimens and to study the nature and extent of any association between tubal histopathological findings and lesions of the accompanying segments of the gynaecological tract.
Study Design: The study is a retrospective- prospective cross-sectional study of all qualified cases of incidental fallopian tubes received at the histopathology Laboratories of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Enugu State University Teaching Hospital over 3 years (1st Jan 2011-31st Dec.2013).The tubes were sampled by Sectioning and Extensively Examining the Fimbriated End (SEE FIM) protocol and examined entirely.
Result: Fallopian tubes from 120 subjects were studied. The mean age of patients undergoing surgery with incidental fallopian tubes is 49 years ± 10.1 and age range was 26-79years.Sixty one (50.8%) of the fallopian tubes are within normal limits under H&E. Fifty nine (49.2%) of the tubes had identifiable histopathological lesion. Of these, 29(24.2%) cases had moderate to marked epithelial hyperplasia. One (0.8%) case of invasive serous adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube and 6(5%) cases of atypical epithelial hyperplasia were seen. Four (3.3%) cases showed secondary involvement of the fallopian tube with carcinoma. Chronic salpingitis was seen in 15(12.5%) cases. Moderate to marked epithelial hyperplasia of the tube showed strong association with sex cord-stromal tumours of the ovary.
Conclusion: With extensive sampling, about 49% of the incidental salpingectomy specimens have some identifiable pathological lesions. Moderate to marked epithelial hyperplasia of the fallopian tube shows statistically significant association with sex cord-stromal tumour of the ovary (P < .001).