Published online May 10, 2014. doi: 10.5317/wjog.v3.i2.35
Revised: June 10, 2013
Accepted: June 18, 2013
Published online: May 10, 2014
Disorders of the fallopian tube play a very important role in both infertility and gynaecological oncology. Tubal factor infertility is considered among the leading causes of female factor infertility. Many tubal disorders are related to infertility including congenital anomalies, acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, endometriosis and other pathologies that result in partial or total fallopian tube obstruction. In the field of gynaecological oncology, ovarian surface epithelial tumors remain one of the most fatal malignancies in women worldwide carrying the worst prognosis among female genital malignancies. For decades, the cell of origin of epithelial tumors has remained controversial and was largely believed to be surface ovarian epithelium. Recently several studies suggested that there is a major role of the fallopian tube in the development of ovarian surface epithelial tumors, mainly high grade serous carcinoma and other tumour types. In this article we review the role of the fallopian tube in both infertility and gynaecological oncology.
Core tip: Disorders of the fallopian tube play a major role in infertility. These disorders include congenital anomalies, inflammation and different other causes of tubal obstruction. Recently several studies suggested a role for the fallopian tube in the development of ovarian carcinoma, mainly high grade serous carcinoma. This article reviews the role of the fallopian tube in infertility and gynaecological oncology.