The results of some cytochemical reactions in metastatic malignant tumor cells in pleural and peritoneal effusions.

The cytomorphologic and cytochemical investigation of 59 samples of pleural and peritoneal effusions with malignant tumor cells was performed and the results were compared. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically in most cases. The cytomorphologic method gave very good results not only in the determination of malignant tumor cells but also in the differentiation of various kinds of tumors. A diagnosis was made of differentiated carcinoma (adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma) in 40 cases, undifferentiated carcinoma in five, sarcoma or hemoblastosis in nine and undifferentiated malignant tumor in five cases. The results of cytochemical reactions investigated demonstrated a significant difference between the cells of carcinoma and sarcoma, and in various kinds of carcinoma the most important difference was found between the positive reaction of the alkaline phosphatase and negative reaction of the acid phosphatase in the cells of ovarina and uterine carcinoma. Although we consider the morphologic examination of effusions the most important for the diagnosis of malignancy, the cytochemical methods can sometimes be helpful in a more precise differentiation.