title: Peritoneal fluid profiles.
abstract: Peritoneal fluid in women is very sensitive to many physiologic and pathologic gynecologic and obstetric conditions. Peritoneal fluid specimens can be obtained from women easily by culdocentesis. Routine assay for the presence or absence of malignant cells in peritoneal fluid from women with early ovarian cancer is indicated to determine the prognosis for the patient and the necessity for further therapy. The serial cytologic and biochemical evaluation of peritoneal fluid seems to be the best currently available means to determine persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer as well as to monitor therapy in a woman with normal clinical and roentgenographic examinations.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology