Peritoneal cytology as prognostic factor in cervical cancer

To investigate the prognostic role of peritoneal cytology (PC) in cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy.

We retrospectively analyzed 120 stage IA1-IIIB patients with cervical cancer who underwent peritoneal fluid collection for cytology during radical hysterectomy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy was performed in 48% of the cases. All PC specimens were obtained by aspiration of free-fluid when present or by peritoneal washing. The relationships between cytological diagnosis, histological variables, and prognosis were investigated.

PC was positive in 4 out of 120 (3.3%) cases. All were advanced stage adenocarcinomas. Overall, 4 out of 26 (15.3%) cases with adenocarcinoma were positive, and all presented with free fluid in the pelvis. No positive PC was found among squamous cancers. Histological subtype (P: 0.002) and parametrial (P < 0.001) and vaginal (P: 0.002) involvement presented a statistically significant correlation with PC positivity. The prognostic analysis of histological parameters demonstrated that parametrial (P: 0.007), vaginal (P: 0.04), and lymph node involvements (P: 0.003) were significantly correlated with a shorter disease-free survival.

The series indicates that PC in squamous cell cervical cancer is not a significant prognostic factor. Its routine collection in squamous cancer should be abandoned in this setting. On the other hand, the unfavorable prognostic profile of PC positive cases in our investigation suggest a possible impact of this variable on outcome. The significant link between PC and locally advanced adenocarcinomas underwent neoadjuvant therapy before surgery warrants a further investigation to assess its real prognostic value and its indication in this particular clinical setting.