Detached ciliary tufts in female peritoneal washings. A common finding

Detached ciliary tufts (DCTs) have been observed in sputum, in cervicovaginal smears and, rarely, in fluid from the pouch of Douglas. DCTs occur frequently in peritoneal washings from female patients. Twenty-five consecutive peritoneal washings were studied for DCTs. Fourteen specimens were from women in the reproductive age group (21 to 47 years); all contained DCTs. All of these 14 patients, except for one in the 14th week of pregnancy, were in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The 11 patients without DCTs in their peritoneal washing had an age range of 23 to 88 years. Three were postmenopausal, seven were in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, and one had had a previous hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. DCTs most likely represent a physiologic process of cyclic shedding of cilia from the cells of the fallopian tubes during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.