Prognostic indicators of malignant tubal intraluminal cells for patients with endometrial cancer

Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with nodal analysis is the preferred primary management for most patients with endometrial cancer.1 Microscopic evaluation of the fallopian tubes occasionally identifies free-floating intraluminal cancer cells (FFICC) without an in situ or invasive tubal component.2 FFICCs have been recently reported in the literature to be associated with lower survival in high-risk endometrial cancer histologies.3 The proposed mechanism of action involves exfoliation through the fallopian tubes and spillage into the peritoneal cavity leading to widespread metastatic potential.4 Although the significance of peritoneal cytology has historically been called into question and has since been removed from surgical staging, a positive correlation has been noted among patients who have FFICCs with positive washings.5 Our study aimed to determine the incidence of FFICCs, risk factors, and their prognostic significance.