The Implications of Positive Peritoneal Lavage Cytology in Potentially Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Background

The clinical implications of peritoneal lavage cytology (CY) status in patients with potentially resectable pancreatic cancer have not been established.

Method

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from 254 consecutive patients who underwent macroscopically curative resection for pancreatic cancer from February 2003 to December 2010 in our institution. Correlations between CY status and survival and clinicopathological findings were investigated.

Results

Of the 254 patients, 20 were CY+ (7.9?%). There were no significant differences between CY+ and CY? patients in background data (age, sex, the level of preoperative tumor marker, and adjuvant chemotherapy). Patients with positive serosal invasion were more likely to be CY+ than those with negative serosal invasion (P?P?=?0.302). The median recurrence-free survival of CY+ and CY? patients was 8.1?months (95?% CI?=?0.0–17.9) and 13.5?months (95?% CI?=?11.5–15.5), respectively (P?=?0.089).

Conclusion

CY+ status without other distant metastasis does not necessarily preclude resection in patients with pancreatic cancer.