Composite Atlases

Pathology Atlas: Fallopian Tube

• Normal Tube
• Tuberculous Salpingitis
• Fallopian Tube Carcinoma
• PID
• Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy

Normal Tube

Photomicrograph showing the isthmic portion of the fallopian tube; it is in this portion of the tube that spasm may occur and close the lumen. The mucosa is lined by columnar epithelium which surrounds the lumen. The columnar cells have cilia. The circular muscle layer is thickest at the isthmus and thinnest at the infundibulum.

Photomicrograph (low power) of the human uterine tube. The mucosa forms folds which in transsection of the tube simulate glandular structures. There are, however, no true secreting glands in the oviduct.

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Tuberculous Salpingitis

Tuberculous salpingitis. Chronic salpingitis due to tuberculosis presents the characteristic histologic features of the tuberculous granuloma: lymphocytes, epithelioid cell granulomata, and giant cells of both the Langerhans and the foreign body type are seen. Tuberculous infection of the fallopian tube often results in an “adenomatous” proliferation of the lining epithelium. This is seen on the left of this photomicrograph and may give rise to confusion with adenocarcinoma.(×100.)

Tuberculous salpingitis may contain Schaumann bodies, which are more characteristic of sarcoidosis than tuberculosis. These are conchoidal, laminated, calcified structures, usually surrounded by foreign body giant cells.(×100.).

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Fallopian Tube Carcinoma

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube. The wall is smooth and grossly uninvolved. The lumen is distended with tumor on the left and coagulated fluid on the right, simulating a hydrosalpinx or pyosalpinx.(Courtesy of J. Donald Woodruff, MD)

Papillary tumor with extensive growth into the lumen; the muscularis is spared.(Courtesy of J. Donald Woodruff, MD)

Papillary lesion developing from the normal epithelium as noted on the left. Alveolar or pseudoadenomatous pattern is demonstrated on the right.(Courtesy of J. Donald Woodruff, MD)

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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) (From Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology - 2nd Edition, The Health Care of Women in Military Settings, CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR, NAVMEDPUB 6300-2C, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20372-5300, January 1, 2000. Original image courtesy CAPT Richard Stock, MC, USN)

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Bilateral Hydrosalpinx (From Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology - 2nd Edition, The Health Care of Women in Military Settings, CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR, NAVMEDPUB 6300-2C, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20372-5300, January 1, 2000. Original image courtesy CAPT Richard Stock, MC, USN)

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Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy

Tubal ectopic pregnancy, with blood cast of the tube (From Operational Obstetrics & Gynecology - 2nd Edition, The Health Care of Women in Military Settings, CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR, NAVMEDPUB 6300-2C, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20372-5300, January 1, 2000. Original image courtesy CAPT Richard Stock, MC, USN)

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