Cytologic findings in peritoneal washings associated with benign gynecologic disease

In order to define the problems in the interpretation of peritoneal washing cytology specimens, 149 benign cases were examined retrospectively and the cytologies compared with the correlating histologies. There were problems in the cytologic interpretation on blind review in 18 cases (12.1%). Difficulties in interpretation of peritoneal washing cytology included conditions associated with (1) mesothelial reactions and adhesion formation, (2) rupture of cystic structures, (3) fallopian tube epithelium and (4) combinations of these factors. It is anticipated that familiarity with these problems will enhance accuracy in peritoneal washing cytology, particularly in those cases in which a malignancy is present but has not penetrated into the peritoneal cavity.