Living cytology--revisited. In vitro demonstration of intraabdominal adenocarcinomatosis.

An in vitro culture technique, "living cytology", was used in a single-blind study to study 36 paracentesis and 7 intracystic fluid specimens for possible adenocarcinomatosis. Islets of epithelial cells were demonstrated only in the 20 patients who were ultimately shown to have intraabdominal adenocarcinomatosis. Ten patients with nonmalignant conditions and 6 patients with nonmetastatic malignancies did not exhibit a comparable pattern. One of the 7 intracystic fluid specimens grew out epithelial islets similar to those observed in patients with intraabdominal adenocarcinomatosis.