A 60-year-old woman presents with profuse watery vaginal discharge for 2 months and a vague lower abdominal discomfort. Pelvic examination reveals a small, mobile right adnexal mass. The most characteristic feature of the likely diagnosis is:

• A Abnormal glandular cells on cervical cytology
• B Postmenopausal bleeding with an atrophic endometrium
• C Elevated CA-125 >500 U/mL with omental caking
• D Profuse watery vaginal discharge (hydrops tubae profluens) ✓

Explanation

Fallopian tube carcinoma classically presents with the triad of pain, bleeding, and watery discharge, though all three occur together in fewer than 15 percent of cases. The most characteristic single feature is profuse watery vaginal discharge, called hydrops tubae profluens, caused by tubal distension and periodic emptying. This distinguishes it from endometrial carcinoma, epithelial ovarian cancer, and cervical adenocarcinoma.

Reference: Berek and Novak's Gynecology, 16th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.