Significance of peritoneal washings in gynecologic oncology. The experience with 901 intraoperative washings at an academic medical center.
OBJECTIVE
Peritoneal washings are routinely performed during gynecologic surgery. The presence or absence of malignant cells in washings helps determine the stage of the malignancy. However, the efficacy of this procedure has not been studied recently.


METHODS
All intraoperative washings for gynecologic disease at our hospital from 1992 through 1994 (901 cases) were reviewed. Of these, 380 were gynecologic malignancies that were reviewed for changes in staging based on the presence of malignant cells.


RESULTS
Histologically, 380 cases were gynecologic malignancies, 521 benign, 79 nongynecologic, and 25 had no accompanying surgical pathology. Of the malignancies, 125 had a diagnosis of cancer on washings. In 12 cases (3.1%), a change in stage resulted.


CONCLUSIONS
In a small but significant number of cases, malignant cells in the washings changed postoperative staging, impacting therapeutic measures and prognosis for these patients greatly. Peritoneal washings remain a simple yet effective tool in the evaluation and management of gynecologic malignancies.
Mathew
S
S
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md 21224, USA.
Erozan
Y S
YS
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology