title: The role of cul-de-sac aspiration cytology in the follow-up of ovarian cancer.
abstract: The methods most often used for follow-up of ovarian cancer are physical examination, CA-125 measurement and ultrasonography or computed tomography. In the present study the role of cul-de-sac aspiration cytology as a supplementary method was evaluated. We analyzed the records of 110 stage I-IV ovarian cancer patients who had undergone cul-de-sac aspiration as a part of their follow-up schedule after the primary treatment. During the median follow-up of 5 years altogether 577 cul-de-sac aspirations were performed with a median interval of 9 months. Only in 2 cases the obtained sample was insufficient for evaluation. Twenty patients had cul-de-sac cytology > or = class III at some point during the follow-up. In 12 cases the preceding or subsequent CA-125 values taken within 3 months were < 35 U/l. In 7 cases CA-125 values increased later, but in 5 cases the tumour marker values remained within normal range during the entire follow-up. Nine out of these 12 patients had a clinical recurrence later on, but 3 patients had no evidence of the disease. Twenty-seven recurrences were detected during the follow-up. Cul-de-sac aspiration cytology was the first or the only indication of recurrence in 9 cases (33%) and is a useful supplementary method in the follow-up of ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Engblom
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Grènman
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Klemi
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hirvonen
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Salmi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010808:Physical Examination; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen