Value of ascitic fibronectin and cholesterol concentration in the differentiation between malignancy-related and non-malignant ascites.
In this prospective study, we tried to evaluate various "humoral tests of malignancy" regarding their efficiency of discriminating between malignancy-related and non-malignant ascites. Fibronectin, total protein, number of cells, LDH, pH, specific gravity and cytology were compared in the ascitic fluid of 51 patients with malignancy-related and 52 patients with non-malignant ascites; patients with tuberculous peritonitis were not included. Ascitic fluid cholesterol was determined in 36 of 51 malignancy-related and in 37 of 52 non-malignant ascites. Cytology and fibronectin were found 100% specific with diagnostic efficiency 87.5% and 94.2% respectively under optimal conditions. Cholesterol was neither sensitive nor specific. It is concluded that fibronectin was a valuable test for malignancy-associated ascites.
Archimandritis
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A
Departement of Pathophysiology, University of Athens, Medical School, Laikon General Hospital, Greece.
Kapsalas
D
D
Douvara
M
M
Tjivras
M
M
Tsirantonaki
M
M
Fertakis
A
A
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D005353:Fibronectins; D002784:Cholesterol