Serosal cytologic study to determine free mesothelial penetration of intraperitoneal colon cancer.
BACKGROUND
The presence of complete transmural penetration with tumor cells at the free mesothelial surface in patients with intraperitoneal colon cancer is an important prognostic feature and may alter the decision regarding adjuvant chemotherapy.


METHODS
In this prospective study of 65 patients, specimens obtained by scraping the serosa overlying the primary tumor mass were analyzed by routine Papanicolaou cytologic study.


RESULTS
Malignant cells were present in 23.1% of patients. In 46 patients with histologic pT3 tumors (through the muscularis propria but not through serosa), serosal cytologic study results were positive in 26.1% of patients. Serosal cytologic results were positive from an area of normal colon at least 10 cm proximal or distal to the primary tumor in one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Serosal cytologic study appeared to be a simple and reliable method to detect serosal penetration and the presence of tumor cells at the mesothelial surface.
Zeng
Z
Z
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021.
Cohen
A M
AM
Hajdu
S
S
Sternberg
S S
SS
Sigurdson
E R
ER
Enker
W
W
D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies