Incidence of Free Colorectal Cancer Cells in Peritoneal
Cavity and Correlation with Clinicopathologic Variables:
An Analysis of 275 Patients Undergoing Curative Intent
Resection for Colorectal Cancer
Weerapat Suwanthanma MD1, Chakrapan Euanorasetr MD1, Panuwat Lertsithichai MD1,
Atcharaporn Pongtippan MD2, Ekkapob Sirachainan MD3, Napaphat Poprom MPh1
Affiliation :
1 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
2 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
3 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Positive peritoneal cytology has impact on prognosis of several intra-abdominal malignancies. There was no consensus
on whether we should routinely perform peritoneal cytology in operated-colorectal cancer patients because previous studies
showed very low yield.
Objective : The present study was conducted to investigate the incidence of free cancer cells in the peritoneal lavage cytology of
patients underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer.
Materials and Methods : Between January 2006 and December 2012, intraoperative peritoneal lavage cytology was performed in
275 patients underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer. Immediately after exploration of abdomen, 100 ml of normal saline
solution was instilled into peritoneal cavity over the tumor site. Peritoneal lavage was then aspirated and sent for cytological
examination.
Results : Six (2.18%) of the 275 specimens examined were found to have positive peritoneal lavage cytology. Demographic variables,
site of tumor, degree of differentiation, mucinous component, perineural invasion, angiolymphatic invasion, depth of tumor
penetration, staging, and level of serum CEA were found not to affect the incidence of free cancer cells. Positive nodal status was
the only factor found to be associated with incidence of positive peritoneal cytology (p = 0.04).
Conclusion : Our study demonstrates low incidence of positive free colorectal cancer cell in lavage (cid:976)luid obtained before resection
in patients that underwent curative intent resection for colorectal cancer. The factor associated with positive peritoneal cytology
is lymph node involvement.
Keywords : Free colorectal cancer cell, Peritoneal lavage cytology, Colorectal cancer
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