The significance of positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer.

Various studies over the years have demonstrated malignant cells in the peritoneal fluid in the majority of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma, thereby suggesting that the absence of malignant cells in early ovarian cancer might indicate a favorable prognosis. However, in endometrial adenocarcinoma, the significance of malignant peritoneal cytology has been less well defined. In the author's study of 615 patients, clinical stage, histologic grade, age of patient, and the results of peritoneal cytology correlated with survival. Survival of clinical Stage I patients with negative peritoneal cytology was superior to that of those with malignant cytology. However, proper assessment of peritoneal cytology as an independent risk factor awaits a prospective study, as does the need for or type of therapy for patients with malignant cytology.