[Living cytology in the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumor].

Atypical mesothelial cells are sometimes hard to differentiate from cancer cells in the cytology of ascitic or peritoneal washing fluid. The morphological characteristics of the cells, with or without the application of special stains, have mainly been used in differential diagnosis. In the present study, the living cytology described by Monif et al. is applied to the ascites of ovarian cancer patients. 13 cases of ovarian cancer with ascitic fluid were investigated. When 20-30ml ascitic fluid is cultured for a short term, the mesothelial cells transform to fibroblastic cells, and cancer cells form the special islets of cells. This phenomenon is judged as "Positive". The morphology of the ascitic smear and tissue culture of the tumor were also studied for comparison. Living cytology gave the same results as ascitic smear, and made it easier to differentiate mesothelial cells from cancer cells. Cancer cells in living cytology were similar to cells in tissue culture microscopically. In conclusion, living cytology seems useful especially when it is felt difficult to make a diagnosis of cancer cells on the basis of the contamination of active mesothelial cells.