Incidence Of Positive Peritoneal Cytology Research Articles

Impact of surgical approach on prevalence of positive peritoneal cytology and lymph-vascular invasion in patients with early-stage endometrial carcinoma: a National Cancer Database study

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of positive peritoneal cytology and lymph-vascular invasion by surgical approach among patients with early stage endometrioid endometrial carcinoma undergoing hysterectomy.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was accessed and...

Positive peritoneal cytology is an independent risk factor in endometrial cancer.

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to investigate whether positive peritoneal cytology could serve as a prognostic factor in endometrial cancer (EC).MethodsFrom patients with EC surgically treated at Peking University People's Hospital between 2006 and 2016, 520 patients were selected for retrospective investigation. Clinical and pathologic factors associated with positive peritoneal cytology were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions model. Disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier estimation and multivariate Cox regressions model.Results(i) The incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in EC patients was 9.0% (47/520). (ii) Multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors of positive peritoneal cytology were nonendometrioid carcinoma (odds ratio [OR] = 4.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8–8.8, P = 0.001), tumor diameter ≥2 cm (OR = 3.2, 95% CI, 1.2–8.7, P = 0.023), cervical stromal invasion (OR = 2.9, 95% CI, 1.3–6.6, P = 0.009) and distant metastasis (OR = 6.5, 95% CI, 1.7–25.4, P = 0.007). (iii) The 5‐year DFS and 5‐year OS of the positive peritoneal cytology group were significantly lower compared with the negative group (54.0% vs 93.2%, P < 0.001; 63.6% vs 94.6%, P < 0.001). (iv) After other contributing factors were adjusted in the multivariable model, positive peritoneal cytology remained an independent predictor of decreased DFS (OR = 2.8, 95% CI, 1.3–6.0, P = 0.007) and OS (OR = 2.8, 95% CI, 1.0–7.2, P = 0.035).ConclusionPositive peritoneal cytology was an independent risk factor in EC patients. Even though it is no longer an indicator according to the current International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system, the peritoneal cytology status should still be considered for accurate risk stratification in EC.

Positive Peritoneal Lavage Cytology -Implications for Staging and Management of Gastric Cancer.

The survival rates of gastric cancer patients with cytology-positive peritoneal lavage fluid without macroscopic dissemination (CY+/P-) is the same as that of patients with overt peritoneal metastasis.The 5-year survival rate of such patients is only 2%. The current study aims to highlight its significance in the staging of gastrointestinal malignancies and its implications for patient care. Prospective nonrandom analysis of peritoneal wash cytology in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies was conducted in the department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad from January 2012 to June 2013. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA variance analysis was performed to estimate incidence, risk factors and the effect of surgery in causing peritoneal dissemination of malignancy. A total of 60 patients with operable gastric cancer underwent peritoneal lavage for evaluation of malignant cells. The incidence of Positive peritoneal lavage cytology was 8.3% (5/60).Four patients with positive lavage fluid belong to T3 stage (11.7%, p-0.309).Poorly differentiating and mucinous tumors had a higher incidence of positive cytology (18.1% and 25%).None of the patients with positive cytology had positive resection margin. Tumors with advanced T stage, lymph nodal involvement, lympho-vascular and perineural invasion have higher incidence of positive peritoneal cytology. Surgical handling has a negligible effect in peritoneal dissemination of tumor. Large scale studies are warranted to validate the findings and define it's role in management of gastric cancer.

Incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in patients with endometrial carcinoma after hysteroscopy vs. dilatation and curettage.

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to compare the frequency of positive peritoneal washings in endometrial cancer patients after either hysteroscopy (HSC) or dilatation and curettage (D&C).Patients and methodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of 227 patients who underwent either HSC (N = 144) or D&C (N = 83) and were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma at the University Medical Centre Maribor between January 2008 and December 2014. The incidence of positive peritoneal cytology was evaluated in each group.ResultsThere was no overall difference in the incidence of positive peritoneal washings after HSC or D&C (HSC = 13.2%; D&C = 12.0%; p = 0.803). However, a detailed analysis of stage I disease revealed significantly higher rates of positive peritoneal washings in the HSC group (HSC = 12.8%; D&C = 3.4%; p = 0.046). Among these patients, there was no difference between both groups considering histologic type (chi-square = 0.059; p = 0.807), tumour differentiation (chi-square = 3.709; p = 0.156), the time between diagnosis and operation (t = 0.930; p = 0.357), and myometrial invasion (chi-square = 5.073; p = 0.079).ConclusionsAlthough the diagnostic procedure did not influence the overall incidence of positive peritoneal washings, HSC was associated with a significantly higher rate of positive peritoneal cytology in stage I endometrial carcinoma compared to D&C.

Positive peritoneal cytology is an independent risk-factor among women diagnosed with endometrial cancer confined to the uterus

Objective: The incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in early‐stage endometrial cancer has been reported to range from 5% to 10%, but its significance remains debatable. In light of the recent changes in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging criteria, the objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) among patients with endometrial cancer apparently confined to the uterus.

Histologic Artifacts in Abdominal, Vaginal, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Hysterectomy Specimens

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) is a minimally invasive technique, which results in comparable morbidity and better cosmesis compared with total abdominal hysterectomy. The literature is discrepant as to whether it is associated with a higher incidence of positive peritoneal cytology compared with total abdominal hysterectomy and recently, associated artifacts, including vascular pseudoinvasion (VPI), have been described. A retrospective histopathologic review of 266 hysterectomy specimens from 2 centers was performed. The observers, blinded to the surgical technique, assessed for the presence of artifactual changes including disruption of the endometrial lining, nuclear crush artifact, VPI, endomyometrial cleft artifact with or without epithelial displacement, inflammatory debris within vessels, serosal carryover, and intratubal contaminants. In addition, the rates of positive peritoneal washings over a 5-year period, and the use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) to aid in cell typing over a 3-year period, were compared between hysterectomies in which a uterine manipulator (UM) device had and had not (nonmanipulated hysterectomies) been used. The hysterectomies were performed for malignant (n=160) and benign (n=102) uterine disease or for ovarian or cervical disease (n=4), and included total abdominal (n=108), vaginal (n=17), laparoscopy-assisted vaginal (n=24), laparoscopy converted to laparotomy (n=10), nonrobotic laparoscopic (n=51), and robot-assisted laparoscopic (n=56) hysterectomies. One hundred and two (38%) of these hysterectomies involved the use of a UM. Artifactual changes of disruption of the endometrial lining, endomyometrial clefts, intratubal contaminants, nuclear crush artifact, intravascular inflammatory debris, and VPI were significantly more common with LH and with the use of a UM, independent of whether the endometrial pathology was benign or malignant. IHC to aid in endometrial cancer subtyping was more likely to be used in manipulated hysterectomies (P=0.0166). Furthermore, peritoneal washings were significantly more likely to be positive in hysterectomies in which a UM had been used (P=0.0061). Histologic artifacts are significantly more common in LH and specifically in hysterectomies in which a UM is used. Such artifacts impair the pathologists' interpretation of cell type requiring an increased use of IHC, and displaced epithelial fragments present within vessels or artifactual clefts may result in the misinterpretation of prognostic and staging parameters. Furthermore, there is a significantly higher rate of positive peritoneal cytology in cases that are subjected to uterine manipulation, suggesting dissemination of malignant cells into the abdominal cavity. The clinical significance of this finding needs to be determined.

Laparoscopic surgery does not increase the positive peritoneal cytology among women with endometrial carcinoma

Objective. The purpose of our study was to find if uterine manipulation at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy among women with endometrial carcinoma increases the incidence of malignant cells in the peritoneal washings. Material and methods. We conducted a prospective study including women with clinical stage I endometrioid endometrial carcinoma undergoing laparoscopic surgery between 07/01/2000 and 07/01/2004. Surgery on all patients was conducted by the same surgeon using the same technique and instruments. Two sets of peritoneal washings were obtained, one before and one after the insertion of the Pelosi uterine manipulator. The two sets of washings were blindly reviewed by the same cytopathologist for the presence of malignant cells. Correlation was made between the two sets of washings. Results. Forty-two consecutive women (age 46–90, median: 58) were enrolled in the study. The procedure was converted to laparotomy in 3 (7.6%) patients after obtaining the two sets of washings. The preoperative tumor grades were: G1: 22 (52.4%), G2: 12 (28.6%), and G3: 8 (19.0). The incidence of positive peritoneal washings was 14.3%. All patients underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 30 patients had bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, and 5 patients had bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. There was perfect agreement between the two sets of washings in all patients (100%, P < .001). No patients had positive washings after the insertion of the uterine manipulator if the washings were negative before the insertion. The surgical stages were: IA: 14 (33.3%), IB: 12 (28.6%), IC: 7 (16.7%), IIA: 1 (2.4%), IIB: 1 (2.4%), IIIA: 4 (9.5%), IIIB: 1 (2.4%), IIIC: 1 (2.4%), and IV: 1 (2.4%). Twenty-nine patients received no postoperative treatment, 2 received chemotherapy, 3 received Megace, and 9 received radiation therapy. Patients were followed-up for 7–56 months (median: 28). Two patients had tumor recurrence, and one patient died secondary to her disease. Two other patients died secondary to other causes. Conclusions. We conclude that uterine manipulation at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy does not increase the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology among women with endometrial carcinoma.

The Incidence of Positive Peritoneal Cytology in Colon Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Blinded Trial

Many investigators have attempted to explain the suspected increased incidence of port site metastasis in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resections for cancer with animal models in which cancer is simulated by injection of a tumor slurry into the peritoneal cavity. This approach makes the basic assumption that all patients with colorectal malignancies have viable cancer cells freely circulating within the peritoneal cavity. Recent reports in open colorectal resections have conflicting results. Some suggest that the true incidence is negligible and related to advanced-stage cancers whereas others implicate a much higher incidence. We initiated a prospective blinded trial to establish the true incidence of malignant peritoneal cytology in colorectal cancer. One hundred eight consecutive colon resections underwent conventional peritoneal cytologic evaluation. The patients included those with inflammatory conditions of the colon as well as malignant disease. The cytopathologist was blinded as to the indications for surgery as well as the final pathology result. In only one case--stage IV rectal cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis--was the cytologic specimen positive. Malignant cytology appears to be an infrequent occurrence and is restricted to advanced-stage cancer.

High Incidence of Positive Peritoneal Cytology in Low-Risk Endometrial Cancer Treated by Laparoscopically-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

High Incidence of Positive Peritoneal Cytology in Low-Risk Endometrial Cancer Treated by Laparoscopically-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

Positive Peritoneal Cytology in Endometrial Cancer: Enhancement of Other Prognostic Indicators

Objective. The goal of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer.Methods. A clinicocytopathological study was performed in 534 patients with endometrial cancer to assess the prognostic value of positive peritoneal cytology. The study population was divided into three groups: a low-risk group (disease limited to the uterus, grade 1, and depth of invasion ≦1/2), a moderate-risk group (disease limited to the uterus, grade 2 or 3, and/or depth of invasion >1/2), and a high-risk group (extrauterine disease). In each group, disease-free survival was compared in the patients who were positive or negative for malignant cells.Results. The overall incidence of positive peritoneal cytology was 22.3% (119/534). The 5-year disease-free survival of patients positive or negative for malignant cells was 98.1% versus 100% in the low-risk group (n = 250), 77.5% versus 91.3% in the moderate-risk group (n = 211), and 42.9% versus 72.1% in the high-risk group (n = 73). A significant difference was noted in the moderate-risk (P = 0.044) and high-risk (P = 0.015) groups, but not in the low-risk group (P = 0.56).Conclusions. Positive peritoneal cytology is not a negative prognostic indicator itself, but it potentiates other prognostic indicators for endometrial cancer. Our findings also suggest that patients with positive peritoneal cytology in the absence of other adverse prognostic factors do not need upstaging.

High Incidence of Positive Peritoneal Cytology in Low-Risk Endometrial Cancer Treated by Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

Objective. Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) has evolved into an alternative form of surgical management in the treatment of low-risk endometrial cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether low-risk endometrial cancer patients are subject to a higher incidence of positive peritoneal cytology when treated with LAVH compared to total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH).Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with low-risk endometrial cancer (grade 1–2 endometrioid type with no evidence of extrauterine spread or grade 3 with <50% myometrial invasion (MI), no cervical or adnexal involvement, and negative lymph nodes when sampled) treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from January 1993 to September 1999. We compared 131 patients treated with LAVH to 246 controls who underwent TAH. The two groups were compared for known prognostic factors including grade, MI, vascular space involvement, and lower uterine segment extension.Results. The mean age of patients who underwent LAVH (61 years) was similar to that of the controls (62 years). Fourteen (10.3%) of the patients treated with LAVH had positive peritoneal cytology compared to only 7 (2.8%) of the control population. Factors including FIGO grade, myometrial invasion, and preoperative hysteroscopy did not influence the final results. When stratifying for these factors, the odds ratios of having positive peritoneal washings in those patients treated by LAVH were 5.2, 5.2, and 3.7, respectively.Conclusion. Treatment of low-risk endometrial cancer by LAVH is associated with a significantly higher incidence of positive peritoneal cytology. This may be due to the retrograde dissemination of cancer cells into the peritoneal cavity during uterine manipulation. The clinical significance of these findings is yet to be determined.

Impact of hysteroscopy on disease-free survival in clinically stage I endometrial cancer patients

Recent data strongly suggest tumor cell dissemination of endometrial carcinoma cells in the course of fluid hysteroscopy. In patients who had endometrial cancer which was (except for peritoneal cytology) confined to the uterus, the disease-free survival (DFS) of 135 patients who underwent hysteroscopy prior to staging laparotomy was compared with the DFS of 127 patients without hysteroscopy. After a median follow-up of 23 months, 10 patients experienced tumor recurrence. Although there was a trend towards a higher incidence of positive peritoneal cytology at laparotomy in patients who underwent hysteroscopy, this difference did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.47). For 5 years, the DFS was 92.4% in patients with hysteroscopy and 84.7% in patients without hysteroscopy before laparotomy (log-rank, P = 0.782). Our data therefore suggest a similar short-term DFS in endometrial cancer patients with and without hysteroscopy prior to laparotomy.

Does hysteroscopy facilitate tumor cell dissemination?

In several case reports, distension and irrigation of the uterine cavity during fluid hysteroscopy was suspected to cause tumor cell dissemination into the abdominal cavity in patients with endometrial carcinoma. It was the aim of this study to compare the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in patients who underwent dilatation and curettage (D & C) with or without previous hysteroscopy. The authors conducted a multicentric, retrospective cohort analysis. One hundred thirteen consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma treated between 1996 and 1997 were included. Endometrial carcinoma had to be limited to the inner half or less than the inner half of the myometrium (pathologic Stage IA,B). Positive peritoneal cytology was obtained during staging laparotomy. Patients underwent D & C either with or without prior diagnostic fluid hysteroscopy. No selection or randomization was applied to the two groups. Positive peritoneal cytology, defined as malignant or suspicious, was considered the primary statistical endpoint. Peritoneal cytology was suspicious or positive in 10 of 113 patients (9%). The presence of suspicious or positive peritoneal cytology was associated with a history of hysteroscopy (P = 0.04) but not with myometrial invasion (P = 0.57), histologic subtype (P = 1.00) or grade (r = 0.16, P = 0.10), or the time between D & C and staging laparotomy (r = 0.04, P = 0.66). Based on the limited extent of endometrial carcinoma in the current analysis, our data strongly suggest dissemination of endometrial carcinoma cells after fluid hysteroscopy. Determining whether a positive peritoneal cytology affects the prognoses of patients without further evidence of extrauterine disease will require longer follow-up.

Does hysteroscopy facilitate tumor cell dissemination?

BACKGROUND In several case reports, distension and irrigation of the uterine cavity during fluid hysteroscopy was suspected to cause tumor cell dissemination into the abdominal cavity in patients with endometrial carcinoma. It was the aim of this study to compare the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in patients who underwent dilatation and curettage (D & C) with or without previous hysteroscopy. METHODS The authors conducted a multicentric, retrospective cohort analysis. One hundred thirteen consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma treated between 1996 and 1997 were included. Endometrial carcinoma had to be limited to the inner half or less than the inner half of the myometrium (pathologic Stage IA,B). Positive peritoneal cytology was obtained during staging laparotomy. Patients underwent D & C either with or without prior diagnostic fluid hysteroscopy. No selection or randomization was applied to the two groups. Positive peritoneal cytology, defined as malignant or suspicious, was considered the primary statistical endpoint. RESULTS Peritoneal cytology was suspicious or positive in 10 of 113 patients (9%). The presence of suspicious or positive peritoneal cytology was associated with a history of hysteroscopy (P = 0.04) but not with myometrial invasion (P = 0.57), histologic subtype (P = 1.00) or grade (r = 0.16, P = 0.10), or the time between D & C and staging laparotomy (r = 0.04, P = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS Based on the limited extent of endometrial carcinoma in the current analysis, our data strongly suggest dissemination of endometrial carcinoma cells after fluid hysteroscopy. Determining whether a positive peritoneal cytology affects the prognoses of patients without further evidence of extrauterine disease will require longer follow-up. Cancer 2000;88:139–43. © 2000 American Cancer Society.

Positive peritoneal cytology predicts unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background: Peritoneal cytology is clinically useful in gastric and gynecologic malignancies. Its role in pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains less well defined. Controversy exists as to the relationship between percutaneous fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the pancreas and shedding of malignant cells with the peritoneum. The aim of this study was to determine whether positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) predicts unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and impacts on overall survival. In addition, the study aimed to determine whether antecedent FNA increases the incidence of PPC. Study Design: Between January 1993 and June 1996, 228 patients with radiographically resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent laparoscopic staging. Specimens were taken from right and left upper quadrants at the beginning of laparoscopy. Various prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: PPC was identified in 34 patients (15%). Of patients that had an antecedent FNA, 20% had PPC, and 13% of those without an antecedent FNA had PPC (p = 0.22). The majority of patients with PPC had stage IV disease (26 of 34 [76%]) and only 8 (24%) had no evidence of metastases. Overall survival was significantly higher in patients with negative peritoneal cytology (NPC) compared with PPC (p < 0.0006). PPC had a positive predictive value of 94.1%, specificity of 98.1%, and a sensitivity of 25.6% for determining unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. PPC was not an independent prognostic variable for survival on multivariate analysis. Conclusions: PPC is associated with advanced disease and is highly specific in predicting unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, resulting in decreased survival. Antecedent FNA is not associated with an increased the incidence of PPC, nor does it significantly impact on overall survival.

Significance of Intraperitoneal Cytology in Patients Undergoing Radical Hysterectomy

The incidence and prognostic significance of positive intraperitoneal cytology taken during a radical hysterectomy was reviewed. A prospective study looking at intraperitoneal cytology was conducted by using 400 consecutive radical hysterectomies from January 1988 through June 1996. All selected patients had peritoneal washings performed prior to a radical hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. A single pathologist reviewed all cytological and histologic specimens. A total of 400 patients were included in the study. Only 7 of 400 (1.8%) had positive intraperitoneal cytology. Four had squamous cell cancer and 3 had adenocarcinoma. Five had stage IB cervical cancer and the remainder were stage IIA. Three had positive nodes. Six of 7 had tumor size greater than 3 cm. Three of 7 had >50% invasion and 2 of 7 had lymphovascular space invasion. No other risk factors were present in these specimens. Six of 7 recurred within 18 months of surgery. Recurrences were local or retroperitoneal; none were upper abdomen or intraperitoneal. The incidence of positive peritoneal cytology during radical hysterectomy is 1.8%. The cost of these cytology specimens did not offer an advantage to the current surgical–pathological factors used to determine prognosis and adjuvant therapy.

The Significance of Peritoneal Cytology in Uterine Cervix and Endometrial Cancer

Objective.The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology and to elucidate the prognostic value of peritoneal cytology in patients with uterine cervix and endometrial cancer. Materials and methods.The incidence of positive peritoneal cytology was investigated in 642 patients including 339 uterine cervix and 303 endometrial cancers. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method in a subgroup of 116 stage II cervix and 199 stage I endometrial cancers, and multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model was used to identify an independent prognostic factor. Results.The incidence of positive peritoneal cytology was found to be 9% in uterine cervix cancer and 15% in endometrial cancer. The incidence was higher in patients with some clinicopathologic status such as advanced stage, lymph node metastasis, ovarian metastasis, and deeper myometrial invasion. The 5-year survival rate for patients with positive or negative peritoneal cytology was 44 or 80% in stage II cervix cancers and 80 or 92% in clinical stage I endometrial cancers, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that independent prognostic determinants were pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastasis and peritoneal cytology in stage II cervix cancer and peritoneal cytology in stage I endometrial cancer. Proper treatment protocol should be scheduled for patients with positive peritoneal cytology.

Prognostic Value of Peritoneal Cytology in Patients with Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix

Peritoneal cytology was obtained in 374 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix (stage IB–IIB) in whom gross intraperitoneal disease was absent at the time of radical hysterectomy and node dissections. The relevance of positive peritoneal cytology in relation to the cell type of the tumor was examined. An exceedingly small rate of peritoneal cytologic positivity was found in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (1.7%, 4/242). One of the four patients with positive cytology developed a lung recurrence. On the other hand, the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in patients with adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma was 11.4% (15/132). The 3-year disease-free survival rate in patients having adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma with positive peritoneal cytology was 57.8%, while it was 80.7% in patients with negative peritoneal cytology. However, this factor was closely associated with other adverse prognostic factors. A multivariate analysis revealed that positive peritoneal cytology was not an independent prognostic factor in patients with adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. In addition, intraperitoneal recurrence was not correlated with the presence of cancer cells in the peritoneal fluid. The series indicates that peritoneal cytology in cervical cancer is of little value in treatment planning.

PERITONEAL CYTOLOGY IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER - AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SOURCE OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCER-CELLS IN THE PERITONEAL-CAVITY

In order to identify the source of endometrial cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity, the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology was assessed according to pTNM classification. In 74 cases free peritoneal fluid in the pelvic cavity was aspirated. In the absence of fluid smears of the cul-de-sac was made by scraping (45 cases). Five of 15 positive aspirated cases were pT1N0 or pT2N0. These five cases underwent surgery alone and are still alive with no evidence of disease. Malignant cells which supposedly gain access to the pelvic cavity via the fallopian tube have low potential for implantation.

Peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer: a review.

Utilization of literature review to evaluate peritoneal cytology as a test for the detection of malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity is limited by the size of the study populations, varied use of preoperative radiation, the lack of consistent methodology for specimen retrieval and processing, and the inherent subjectivity of cytologic interpretation. A standardized methodology for retrieval and processing of peritoneal cytologic specimens should be developed to allow meaningful comparisons of future studies. However, certain conclusions are permitted from published data: 1. The incidence of positive peritoneal cytology is 11.4 per cent among 3091 patients with FIGO stage I endometrial cancer. 2. The depth of the uterus does not influence the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology. 3. Positive peritoneal cytology is predictive of other known prognostic factors including advanced histologic grade, depth of myometrial invasion, and pelvic/periaortic lymph node metastases. 4. The presence of malignant cells in the peritoneal washings from some patients with no myometrial invasion and the high incidence of lymph node metastases in other patients with positive peritoneal cytology suggest that malignant cells gain access to the peritoneal cavity in a variety of ways. It is unclear whether each of these modes of access result in viable tumor cells with the potential for viable metastasis. The high incidence of lymph node metastasis in such patients suggests that lymphatic dissemination of malignant cells plays a significant role in the development of positive peritoneal cytology. In this setting positive peritoneal cytology clearly identifies that individual at high risk for recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)