title: Ultrasonographic-guided pervaginal cul-de-sac cytology in the follow-up of ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare, prospectively, traditional pervaginal cul-de-sac aspiration cytology with an ultrasonographic-guided aspirate in the detection of residual or recurrent ovarian carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one patients with ovarian carcinoma were monitored during chemotherapy (21 patients) or follow-up (30 patients) after first-line treatment. All patients underwent both traditional blind pervaginal cul-de-sac aspiration cytology and an ultrasonographic-guided pervaginal aspirate. The samples were classified as class 0 or insufficient when no mesothelial cells were detected in the aspirate. The results of cytological classification of the aspirates were compared with each other according to sampling order.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Samples were classified as class 0 in 56% when the traditional cul-de-sac aspiration was taken first, and in 73% when ultrasonographic-guided aspiration was taken first (p = 0.249, Fisher's exact test). The number of class 0 samples was smaller among those taken second than among those taken first (22 (44%) vs. 33 (65%), p = 0.046). Four recurrences were detected during the mean follow-up of six months (range 2-11 months) in 30 patients who were followed-up after the first-line treatment. In one case, a positive cul-de-sac cytology was the first and only early indication of recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of ultrasonography did not improve the accuracy of the cul-de-sac aspiration. The greater amount of fluid in the cul-de-sac during the second sampling might contribute to achieving a better result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. maarit.vuento@pshp.fi
authors.forename: Maarit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vuento
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klemi
authors.forename: Seija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grénman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; 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* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods