Prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer patients

Abstract

Although peritoneal cytology has been shown to be an independant predictor of survival in endometrial cancer, the present international federation of gynaecology and obstetrics (FIGO) staging system does not involve it for risk stratification. This work aimed to assess the prognostic importance of PPC (positive peritoneal cytology) in endometrial cancer patients. The medical profiles of uterine carcinoma patients were reviewed who were referred to Khatam-al- Anbia and Bahman hospital within 2010–2019. The factors possibly affecting peritoneal fluid cytology in all patients were analysed. There was a considerable association between survival and the number of lymph nodes involvement (95% CI = 2.5 − 12.51, OR = 5.59, p < .001), stage 3 (95% CI = 2.95–22.10, OR = 7.12, p < .001), stage IV (95% CI = 2.14 − 30.09, OR = 8.04, p < .001), Grade (95% CI = 4.4–47.7, OR = 14.54, p < .001). Positive peritoneal cytology was revealed in our study, as an independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancer.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? Peritoneal cytology is one of the independent risk factors for poor survival for endometrial cancer, but international federation of gynaecology and obstetrics (FIGO) staging system does not involve it for risk stratification.

• What do the results of this study add? Positive peritoneal cytology was revealed in our study, as an independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancer.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It is recommended peritoneal cytology for future FIGO staging reviews. Till now, peritoneal washings need to be still regarded as a key part for precise risk-stratification.

Keywords:

• Endometrial cancer
• peritoneal cytology
• prognostic factors

Acknowledgement

The institutional review board and ethic committee of Imam Khomeini hospital approved the study protocol. The authors thanks deputy of research and technology from Tehran University of Medical Sciences for supporting this work as well as health stuff of Khatam-al- Anbia and Bahman hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, for their kind cooperation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services.