Peritoneal cytology in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

The importance of peritoneal cytology was investigated in 163 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Of 116 patients undergoing primary evaluation and treatment 3 (2.5%) had abnormal cytology. No abnormal specimens were found in 77 patients undergoing radical hysterectomy. Five (10.6%) of forty-seven patients evaluated and treated for posttreatment recurrence had abnormal cytology. All eight patients with abnormal cytology had other poor prognostic factors and are dead of cancer. The relevance of abnormal cytology is discussed.