Peritoneal washings in ovarian tumors. Potential sources of error in cytologic diagnosis

Peritoneal washings were performed on 48 patients with suspected or known ovarian carcinoma. The procedure was part of the initial surgical staging in 27 patients with presumed stage I and II ovarian cancer and was performed during second-look operations in 21 other cases with proven ovarian malignancy. This paper presents the microscopic features of the washings, with particular emphasis on the cytologic differentiation between benign and malignant findings outside of the ovary. Thirty-four cases showed benign or reactive mesothelial cells and no evidence of peritoneal disease. The washings of six patient showed malignant cells, which were confirmed histologically. Notable atypia that mimicked ovarian carcinoma was found in eight patients who had benign or borderline lesions. These findings included papillary and glandlike epithelial structures, with varying degrees of cellular atypia and psammoma bodies. The histologic counterparts of these atypicalities were Müllerian inclusions, mesothelial proliferations and borderline serous tumors. The differential diagnosis between these entities is essential because false-positive cytologic diagnoses may alter postoperative treatment in some patients.     

Peritoneal fluid eicosanoids in chronic pelvic pain

Products of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism were estimated in the cul-de-sac fluid from patients with endometriosis, pelvic adhesions and normal laparoscopic examinations, with and without chronic pelvic pain. No correlation between the symptoms, underlying diagnoses, and the concentrations of eicosanoids were observed.     

Peritoneal fluid cytology in serous borderline tumours of the ovary

stewart c. j. r. and kennedy j. h. (1998) Cytopathology 9, 38–45
Peritoneal fluid cytology in serous borderline tumours of the ovary
Peritoneal fluid cytology findings in three patients with serous borderline tumours of the ovary and peritoneal serous implants are presented. The specimens were characterized by papillary groups, acinar clusters and single neoplastic cells exhibiting cytoplasmic vacuolation and nuclear atypia of variable degree. The cytological appearances were initially considered consistent with ovarian adenocarcinoma in all cases. Histological correlation is required to avoid this diagnostic pitfall.     

Peritoneal washing cytology on fluid hysteroscopy and after curettage in women with endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of fluid hysteroscopy with target biopsy of the endometrium and the influence of added curettage on the results of peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) in endometrial carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: In 42 women at risk of endometrial carcinoma, we performed fluid hysteroscopy with target biopsy of the endometrium and curettage. Evaluation of PWC of the pouch of Douglas was performed three times during the procedure: prior to hysteroscopy, after fluid hysteroscopy with target biopsy and after curettage. RESULTS: On cytologic slides from peritoneal washings in 11 patients with carcinoma of the endometrium, malignant endometrial cells were found after curettage in 72.7%. There was no statistically significant difference in PWC prior to hysteroscopy (two women, 20%) or after hysteroscopy with target biopsy (three women, 30%). There was a statistically significant difference (.05 level) in positive PWC after hysteroscopy with target biopsy (three women, 33.3%) and after curettage (eight women, 88.9%). CONCLUSION: Slides from carcinoma of the endometrium in PWC do not deteriorate after hysteroscopy with target biopsy of the endometrium, but tumor cells will appear in the pouch of Douglas after curettage.     

Peritoneal Dialysis

Three patients with chronic uremia and one patient with glutethimide intoxication were treated by peritoneal dialysis at the Prince Edward Island Hospital, Charlottetown. The procedure was discovered to be technically simple and was carried on in one instance for five days and in another for six days without undue difficulty. The dialysis was initiated by the authors on each occasion, but was carried on by graduate nurses under supervision. It is concluded that this procedure is practical and of value for use in relatively small non-teaching hospitals, provided one or more members of the medical staff become familiar with the indications, technical details and complications of the procedure.     

Peritoneal washing cytology

Peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) is a useful indicator of ovarian surface involvement and peritoneal dissemination by ovarian tumours. It may identify subclinical peritoneal spread and thus provide valuable staging and prognostic information, particularly for non-serous ovarian tumours. The role of PWC as a prognostic indicator for endometrial carcinoma is less clear, due in part to the questionable significance of identifying endometrial tumour cells in the peritoneum. Detection of metastatic carcinoma in PWC is based on the recognition of non-mesothelial cell characteristics. However a number of conditions such as reactive mesothelial cells, endometriosis and endosalpingiosis may mimic this appearance. Cells from these conditions may have a similar presentation in PWC to that of serous borderline tumours and low-grade serous carcinoma. The presence of cilia, lack of single atypical cells, prominent cytoplasmic vacuolation, marked nuclear atypia or two distinct cell populations are features favouring a benign process. Attention to these features along with close correlation with clinical history and the results of surgical pathology should help avoid errors. Additional assistance may be provided by the use of cell blocks and special stains.     

Peritoneal dialysis solutions

Certain preventable complications in the treatment of renal failure, in part related to the composition of commercially prepared peritoneal dialysis solutions, continue to occur.Solutions are advocated which would contain sodium 132, calcium 3.5, magnesium 1.5, chloride 102 and lactate or acetate 35 mEq./1., and dextrose 1.5% or about 4.25%. Elimination of 7% dextrose solutions and a reduction of the sodium and lactate concentrations should reduce complications due to hypovolemia, hyperglycemia, hypernatremia and alkalosis. Reduction in the number of solutions should simplify the procedure and perhaps reduce costs. It is anticipated that some of the changes discussed will soon be introduced by industry.     

Cytology of benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma in peritoneal washings

Objective:  To describe the cytological aspect of peritoneal washings in benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (BMPM).
Methods:  Three peritoneal washing specimens stained by standard cytological and histological procedures and analysed by light microscopy.
Results:  The specimens showed an abundance of monomorphous mesothelial cells devoid of atypia or mitoses. The mesothelial cells were calretinin positive. They also showed numerous squamous metaplastic cells arranged in flat sheets or isolated cells. The background contained some inflammatory cells.
Conclusion:  The combination of cytology of the peritoneal washing, histology (cell block and surgical specimen) and clinical history allow differentiation of BMPM from other cystic lesions (cystic lymphangioma and malignant mesothelioma).