The significance of peritoneal cytology in patients with carcinoma of the cervix

Between 1972 and 1977, 141 patients with benign gynecologic disease and 149 patients with carcinoma of the cervix were evaluated with peritoneal fluid cytology at time of celiotomy. There was no positive cytology (malignant cells) in the benign disease group. The overall incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in the cervical group was 8.1%. Positive peritoneal cytology was found four times more frequently in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinomas than squamous carcinomas. The incidence in patients undergoing surgery for recurrent or persistent carcinoma after radiation therapy was 22.6% compared to 4.5% in those treated primarily with definitive surgery. The prognoses do not seem to be influenced by peritoneal cytology status when other poor prognostic factors were considered.