title: Early cytological diagnosis of diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum: a case report.
abstract: Mesotheliomas are the most frequent primary malignant tumors of serosal cavities with a poor prognosis. A definitive and early diagnosis on effusion samples is important, because recent advances in therapy for patients with mesothelioma may result in an improved outcome if they are applied to stage I disease. We report a case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosed repeatedly by cytology in ascites fluids 1.5 yr before the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy histology. The cytological diagnoses were supported by immunocytochemistry, DNA-cytometry, and AgNOR-analysis. Routine cytology supported by three adjuvant methods enabled us to correctly establish the diagnosis. Our case suggests that a cytological diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma supported by adjuvant methods should not be rejected even if based on negative histological results.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytopathology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, Düsseldorf, Germany. natalia.pomjanski@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pomjanski
authors.forename: Hans Juergen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Grote
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heikaus
authors.forename: Klaus-Michael
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böcking
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology