Tumour cell frequency in pleural lavage in cases with stage I epidermoid lung cancer with no visceral pleural involvement.
BACKGROUND
The presence of tumour cells in the pleural lavage of lung cancer patients with no malignant pleural effusion is a negative prognosticator. In the present study we aimed to determine the lowest frequency of positive pleural lavage in lung cancer.


METHODS
The study included 26 consecutive patients who underwent thoracotomy for curative resection for Stage I epidermoid lung cancer. The cases had neither visceral pleural involvement nor obstructive pneumopathy. The patients were applied pleural lavage cytology immediately after thoracotomy.


RESULTS
The frequency of malignant cells in pleural lavage was 7.7% (Stage IA, n = 1, and IB, n = 1).


CONCLUSIONS
Our series, in which we predicted the lowest probability of the presence of tumour cells in pleural lavage, had such a frequency of positive tumour cells that should'nt be neglected. The present study concluded that pleural lavage cytology before pulmonary resection should routinely be performed in 'all' lung cancers and that pleural lavage cytology may also be included in the current staging system.
Oguzkaya
Fahri
F
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey. foguzkaya@erciyes.edu.tr
Akçali
Yigit
Y
Bilgin
Mehmet
M
Haberal
Arif
A
Akgün
Hülya
H
D000368:Aged; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010994:Pleura / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013908:Thoracotomy