• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2014

Purpose: The role of peritoneal washing cytology in determining further treatment strategies after surgery for gastric cancer remains unclear. One reason for this is the fact that optimal procedures to increase the accuracy of predicting peritoneal metastasis have not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cytology using samples harvested from two different abdominal cavity sites during gastric cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: We prospectively recruited 108 patients who were clinically diagnosed with locally advanced gastric cancer (higher than cT1 stage disease). Peritoneal washing fluids were collected from the pouch of Douglas and the subphrenic area. Patients were prospectively followed up for 2 years to determine the recurrence and survival rates. Results: Thirty-three patients dropped out of the study for various reasons, so 75 patients were included in the final analysis. Seven patients (9.3%) showed positive cytology findings, of whom, three showed peritoneal recurrence. Tumor size was the only factor associated with positive cytology findings (P=0.037). The accuracy and specificity of cytology for predicting peritoneal recurrence were 90.1% and 94.2%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity was 50.0%. The survival rate did not differ between patients with positive cytology findings and those with negative cytology findings (P=0.081). Conclusions: Peritoneal washing cytology using samples harvested from two different sites in the abdominal cavity was not able to predict peritoneal recurrence or survival in gastric cancer patients. Further studies will be required to determine whether peritoneal washing cytology during gastric cancer surgery is a meaningful procedure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1027-1030
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• 2013

Background: Peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) that shows the microscopic intra-peritoneal spread of gynaecologic cancers is not used in staging but is known as prognostic factor and effective in planning the intensity of the therapy. False negative or false positive results clearly affect the ability to make the best decision for therapy. In this study we assessed levels of tumour markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) and carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9), in peritoneal washing fluid to establish any possible contribution to the peritoneal washing cytology in patients operated for gynaecologic cancer. Materials and Methods: Preoperative tumour markers were studied in serum of blood samples obtained from the patients for preoperative evaluation of a gynaecologic operation. In the same group peritoneal tumour markers were studied in the washing fluid obtained for intraoperative cytological evaluation. Results: This study included a total of 94 patients, 62 with malignant and 32 with benign histopathology. The sensitivity of the cytological examination was found to be 21% with a specificity of 100%. When evaluated with CEA the sensitivity of the cytological examination has increased to 37%. Conclusions: In addition to examination of PWC, the level of CEA, a tumour marker, in peritoneal washing fluid can make a diagnostic contribution. Determining the level of CEA in peritoneal washing fluid will be useful in the management of gynaecologic cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9405-9410
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic impact of peritoneal washing cytology in patients with endometrial and ovarian cancers. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified 86 individuals with ovarian carcinomas, ovarian borderline tumors and endometrial adenocarcinomas. The patients had been treated at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital and Ramazanzadeh Radiotherapy Center, Yazd, Iran between 2004 and 2012. Survival differences were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox regression method. A p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 36 patients with ovarian carcinomas, 4 with borderline ovarian tumors and 46 with endometrial carcinomas. The mean age of the patients was $53.8{\pm}15.2years$. In patients with ovarian carcinoma the overall survival in the negative cytology group was better than the patients with positive cytology although this difference failed to reach statistical significance (p=0.30). At 0 to 50 months the overall survival was better in patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma and negative cytology than the patients with positive cytology but then it decreased (p=0.85). At 15 to 60 months patients with FIGO 2009 stage IA-II endometrial andocarcinoma and negative peritoneal cytology had a superior survival rate compared to 1988 IIIA and positive cytology only, although this difference failed to reach statistical significance(p=0.94). Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model showed that stage and peritoneal cytology were predictors of death. Conclusions: Our results show good correlation of peritoneal cytology with prognosis in patients with ovarian carcinoma. In endometrial carcinoma it had prognostic importance. Additional research is warranted.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2000

This study presents the cytologic features of peritoneal washings, with particular emphasis on the cytologic discrimination among serous, mucinous, and endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary. We selected histologically confirmed 27 cases of peritoneal washing : 8 cases of serous cystadenocarcinomas, 5 cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, and 14 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinomas. The most frequent cytologic pattern of three tumors was clusters. Ball pattern was found in serous cystadenocarcinoma(36%) and acinar pattern in endometrioid adenocarcinoma(36%). Mucinous adenocarcinoma showed mucoid background(100%) and endometrioid adenocarcinoma revealed inflammatory background(43%). The cytoplasmic vacuoles were noted in 80%, 13%, and 43% of mucinous, serous, and endometriold adenocarcinoma, respectively. The endometrioid adenocarcinoma showed prominent nucleoli(64%). In conclusion, the cytologic findings of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma were different from that of serous and endometrioid carcinomas, such as mucoid background, abundant cyytoplasm with vacuolated cytoplasm, and peripherally located cytoplasm. Although endometriold carcinoma showed acinar pattern and prominent nucleoli, the differential diagnosis between serous cystadenocarcinoma and endometrioid adenocarcinoma in peritoneal washing cytology was was always possible.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6233-6237
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• 2014

Background: Intraperitoneal spread of gynecologic cancers is a major cause of mortality and morbidity and often presents with malignant ascites. Microscopic tumor spread can be demonstrated by a peritoneal wash cytology and help assess the prognosis of the disease. In our study, the roles of paraoxonase and ceruloplasmin, measured in peritoneal washing fluid of patients operated for gynecologic pathologies in differential diagnosis was investigated. Materials and Methods: Patients operated for malign or benign gynecologic pathologies in Antalya Education and Research Hospital Gynecology Clinic between 2010-2012 were included in the study. Samples were obtained during surgery. Results: A statistically significant difference was detected between patients with benign and malign diseases with regards to PON1 levels measured in peritoneal washing fluid (p:0.044), the average values being $64.2{\pm}30.8$ (Range 10.8-187.2) and $41.4{\pm}21.4$ (Range 10.4-95.5), respectively. No significant variation was evident for ceruloplasmin. Conclusions: Paraoxonase levels measured in peritoneal washing fluid may contribute to the differentiation of malign-benign diseases in gynecologic pathologies.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.185-198
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• 2024

Purpose: Peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) is a widely used diagnostic tool for detecting peritoneal metastasis of advanced gastric cancer. However, the prognosis of patients with positive PWC remains poor even after gastrectomy, and treatments vary among institutions and eras. In this study, we identified the clinical factors that can help predict cytology-positive (CY(+)) gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the national data of patients with gastric cancer from 2019, as provided by the Information Committee of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association. Of the 13,447 patients with gastric cancer, 3,672 underwent PWC. Based on cytology results, we analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics and assessed the possibility of CY(+) outcomes in relation to T and N stages. Results: Of the 3,270 patients who underwent PWC without preoperative chemotherapy, 325 were CY(+), whereas 2,945 were negative. CY(+) was more commonly observed in patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer, an undifferentiated histological type, and advanced pathological stages. Multivariate analysis revealed Borrmann type IV (odds ratio [OR], 1.821), tumor invasion to T3-4 (OR, 2.041), and lymph node metastasis (OR, 3.155) as independent predictors of CY(+). Furthermore, for circular tumor location, the N stage emerged as a significant risk factor for CY(+), particularly when the tumor was located on the posterior wall (PW) side. Conclusions: Lymph node metastasis significantly affects CY(+) outcomes, particularly when the tumor is located on the PW side. Therefore, PWC should be considered not only in suspected serosal exposure cases but also in cases of lymph node metastasis.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.173-182
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• 2019

Purpose: Intraoperative peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) is used to determine treatment strategies for gastric cancer with suspected serosal invasion. However, a standard staining method for intraoperative PWC remains to be established. We evaluated the feasibility of a rapid and simple staining method using Shorr's stain for intraoperative PWC in advanced gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Between November 2012 and December 2014, 77 patients with clinical T3 or higher gastric cancer were enrolled. The sensitivity, specificity, and concordance between the Shorr staining method and conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) staining with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunohistochemistry (IHC) were analyzed. Results: Intraoperative PWC was performed laparoscopically in 69 patients (89.6%). The average time of the procedure was 8.3 minutes, and the average amount of aspirated fluids was 83.3 mL. The average time for Shorr staining and pathologic review was 21.0 minutes. Of the 77 patients, 16 (20.7%) had positive cytology and 7 (9.1%) showed atypical findings; sensitivity and specificity were 73.6% and 98.2% for the Shorr method, and 78.9% and 98.2% for the Pap method with CEA IHC, respectively. Concordance of diagnosis between the 2 methods was observed in 90.9% of cases (weighted ${\kappa}$ statistic=0.875) and most disagreements in diagnoses occurred in atypical findings (6/7). In overall survival, there was no significant difference in C-index between the 2 methods (0.459 in Shorr method vs. 0.458 in Pap with CEA IHC method, P=0.987). Conclusions: Shorr staining could be a rapid and reliable method for intraoperative PWC in advanced gastric cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.549-560
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• 2023

Purpose: According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer cancer staging system, positive peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) indicates stage IV gastric cancer. However, rapid intraoperative diagnosis of PWC has no established reliable method. This study evaluated and compared the diagnostic accuracy of the Shorr and the modified ultrafast Papanicolaou (MUFP) methods for intraoperative PWC. Materials and Methods: This study included patients with gastric cancer who were clinically diagnosed with stage cT3 or higher. The Shorr and MUFP methods were performed on all PWC specimens, and the results were compared with those of conventional Papanicolaou (PAP) staining with carcinoembryonic antigen immunohistochemistry. Sensitivity, specificity, and partial likelihood tests were used to compare the 2 methods. Results: Forty patients underwent intraoperative PWC between November 2019 and August 2021. The average time between specimen reception and slide preparation using Shorr and MUFP methods was 44.4±4.5 minutes, and the average time between specimen reception and pathologic diagnosis was 53.9±8.9 minutes. Eight patients (20.0%) had positive cytology in PAP staining. The Shorr method had a sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 93.8%; the MUFP method had 62.5% sensitivity and 100.0% specificity. The area under the curve was 0.844 for Shorr and 0.813 for MUFP. In comparing the C-indices of each method with overall survival, no difference was found among the Shorr, MUFP, and conventional PAP methods. Conclusions: The Shorr and MUFP methods are acceptable for the intraoperative diagnosis of PWC in advanced gastric cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2006

Purpose: Free cancer cells exfoliated from cancer-invaded serosa contribute to peritoneal dissemination, the most frequent pattern of recurrence in patients with gastric cancer. To detect free cancer cells, CEA and CA19-9 were introduced as the markers of gastric cancer, and many methods, such as cytology, immunoassay, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), exist for detecting them. The aim of this study is to define the clinical significance of using immunoassay to measure the levels of CEA and CA19-9 in the peritoneal washings in patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The peritoneal washing fluids were obtained from 130 patients with gastric cancer who received a curative gastrectomy, palliative gastrectomy or open and closure. The pCEA and pCA19-9 levels were measured by using immunoassay and cytology. The results were compared with the clinicopathological data. Results: The pCEA and pCA19-9 levels were correlated with tumor invasion, lymph-node metastasis, and stage (P<0.05). Conclusion: A correlation was found between elevated pCEA and pCA19-9 levels measured by immunoassay and the TNM stage. Therefore, a combined pCEA and pCA19-9 assay could be a sensitive detector of peritoneal dissemination, as well as a predictor of postoperative prognosis. pCEA and pCA19-9 may also determine the adjuvant management strategy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.519-522
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• 2015

Background: We aimed to investigate whether the tumor free distance (the distance between the uterine serosa and the tumor at its deepest point) is useful in surgical staging and in predicting prognosis. Materials and Methods: Data from patients who underwent complete surgical staging for endometrial cancer between January 2006 and June 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. All demographic findings, surgical stages, histological type and grade, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion as well as abdominal cytology, cervical, adnexal, and omental involvement, and lymph node metastasis were recorded. The relations between myometrial invasion and tumor free distance from uterine serosa with prognostic factors were investigated. Results: Seventy patients were included in the study. Sixty-four (91.5%) had endometrioid type cancers and forty-four (62.9%) were grade 1. The deepest myometrial invasion was less than 1/2 in 42 patients (60%). In 18 patients (25.8%) lymphovascular invasion was noted. Eight (11.4%) were found to have cervical involvement, five (7.1%) had adnexal involvement and in 4 cases (5.7%) the peritoneal washings included malignant cells. Four patients had pelvic and one para-aortic node metastasis. We recognized that an invasion of more than 1/2 was correlated significantly with lymphovascular space involvement, histological grade, positive abdominal washing cytology, nodal and cervical involvement, but not with adnexal involvement. Tumor-free myometrial thickness was negative and statistically significant correlated with surgical stage, histological grade, lymphovascular space involvement, positive abdominal washing cytology, cervical and adnexal involvement. The importance of tumor-free myometrial thickness in determinating the lymphovascular space invasion was found to be highest in terms of sensitivity and specificity when crossing the ROC curve at 11 millimeters. Conclusions: Depth of myometrial invasion is more valuable for predicting lymph node metastasis than tumor-free myometrial thickness. The tumor-free myometrial thickness provides a better prediction for adnexal involvement.