The value of intraoperative imprint cytology in the assessment of lymph node status in gastric cancer surgery.
BACKGROUND
The intraoperative assessment of lymph node status is important when performing limited surgery in gastric cancer patients. Currently available techniques for this assessment are frozen section, imprint cytology, and other molecular methods; most current studies use the frozen-section method. In the present study, we focused on the accuracy and feasibility of imprint cytology as a tool to assess lymph node status intraoperatively in gastric cancer surgery.


METHODS
Between April 2001 and March 2003, we performed imprint cytology of the sentinel nodes in 260 consecutive patients. After review by an experienced cytopathologist, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of the method were determined.


RESULTS
The time required for the intraoperative imprint cytology was 8 min, and the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were 52.2%, 88.8%, and 73.8%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Imprint cytology could be a useful technique for the assessment of lymph node status intraoperatively if the sensitivity and specificity can be improved to an acceptable level.
Lee
Young-Joon
YJ
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, 90 Chilam-dong, Jinju 660-702, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.
Moon
Hyeong-Gon
HG
Park
Soon-Tae
ST
Choi
Sang-Gyeong
SG
Hong
Soon-Chan
SC
Jung
Eun-Jung
EJ
Joo
Young-Tae
YT
Jeong
Chi-Young
CY
Ha
Woo-Song
WS
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*