Significance of ascitic fluid and peritoneal washing cytology in ovarian tumor diagnosis.

The results of the cytological test on 179 ascitic fluids and 88 peritoneal washes of patients suspected to have ovarian tumors are critically reviewed to illustrate the difficulties, limitations and future possibilities of this technique. Tissue correlation was available in all cases. The data was evaluated in order to obtain information as to the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of cytological examination, both in ascitic fluids and in peritoneal washings. A correct diagnosis as to the ovarian tumor histotype was obtained in more than 80 per cent of the cases.