Peritoneal cytology in patients with stage IB cervical cancer undergoing radical hysterectomy: limited value

Peritoneal cytology, obtained at the start of planned radical hysterectomy in 200 consecutive patients with Stage IB cervical cancer, none of whom had intra-abdominal extension of disease, was positive in only one patient; this patient received no adjuvant treatment and remains disease-free at 48 months. Routine peritoneal cytology during radical hysterectomy adds little information for patient management and may be safely omitted.