Early detection of ovarian and fallopian tube cancer by examination of cytological samples from the endometrial cavity

Background:

Accumulating evidence suggests that many ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) originate in the fallopian tube. Malignant cells shed by tubal lesions can be detected by examination of cytological samples from the endometrial cavity (endometrial cytological testing). To evaluate the use of this method for detecting HGSC, we examined epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer patients.

Methods:

Endometrial cytological testing was performed for endometrial cancer screening in asymptomatic women and for pre-treatment evaluation in symptomatic suspected ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal cancer patients.

Results:

Of the 122 ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal cancer patients, malignant cells were identified in 5 patients who did not show detectable abnormalities on imaging studies. Cervicovaginal cytology was positive in only one of these five patients. Four patients were asymptomatic and one was symptomatic. Three asymptomatic patients had early-stage HGSCs, and the other asymptomatic patient had positive peritoneal cytology findings but no detectable tumour. HGSC patients were significantly more likely to have positive findings on endometrial cytology than patients with other histological types (23% vs 6%, P=0.02).

Conclusion:

Endometrial cytological testing can detect early-stage ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal HGSCs without detectable pelvic masses and may be useful for ovarian cancer screening.