Clinical significance of peritoneal lavage cytology in advanced gastric cancer patients

Object: In this study, we investigated relationship a positive peritoneal lavage cytology to prognosis. Subjects: Intra-operative peritoneal washings (30 ml of saline) around the Douglas pouch were obtained from 49 patients with advanced gastric cancer in our department from January 1993 to October 1998. Results: The prognosis of positive cytology of peritoneal lavage [cy(+)] cases was poor. It was similar to macroscopic peritoneal dissemination cases[P(+)]. Conclusion: It is considered that intra-operative peritoneal lavage cytology is a useful way to determine the occult peritoneal dissemination. The patients with positive peritoneal lavage cytology must be applied intra-operative and post-operative chemotherapy.