[Clinical values of cytological evaluation of pleural and peritoneal fluids]

We reviewed retrospectively the data obtained from our Department of Clinical Cytology, National Cancer Center in the period of 1964 and 1981, which clearly showed an increasing clinical importance of cytological evaluation of pleural and peritoneal fluids for greater diagnostic efficacy. For example, existence of tumor cells could predict a possibility of local infiltration. Cytological examination could also provide significant information for planning the treatment protocols prior to the initiation of the treatment as well as for predicting efficacy of the treatment using characteristics in particular of lymphocytes, phagocytes and granulocytes. Furthermore, accurate interpretation of cytological examination of pleural and peritoneal fluids seem to be clinically highly suggestive for diagnostic efficacy and also could be a helpful means for evaluation of cancer therapy.