Peritoneal washings are not predictive of occult peritoneal disease in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma Journal Article


Authors: Martin, R. C. G. 2nd; Fong, Y.; DeMatteo, R. P.; Brown, K.; Blumgart, L. H.; Jarnagin, W. R.
Article Title: Peritoneal washings are not predictive of occult peritoneal disease in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Evaluation of peritoneal cytology provides valuable staging information in patients with gastric and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but its usefulness in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of peritoneal cytology in patients with potentially resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This study evaluated a possible association between positive peritoneal cytology and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, which is commonly used in these patients and may result in peritoneal biliary leakage and peritoneal seeding. STUDY DESIGN: From October 1997 through June 2000 26 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent staging laparoscopy immediately before planned open exploration and resection. Peritoneal washings were obtained during laparoscopic examination before any biopsies were taken. Cytologic analysis was performed using the Papanicolau technique. RESULTS: There were 18 men and 8 women, with a median age of 69 years (range 42 to 81 years). The most common presenting symptom was jaundice (n = 19). Previous biliary drainage was performed in 23 patients: 9 percutaneous and 14 endoscopic. Metastatic disease was suspected preoperatively in six patients, three to the liver, two to the peritoneum, and one to regional lymph nodes, all of which were confirmed at laparoscopy. Laparoscopy identified five additional patients with metastatic disease. Peritoneal cytology was positive for malignant cells in two patients, both of whom had gross peritoneal metastases. Nine other patients had metastatic disease to distant sites within the abdomen, but none had positive cytology. Overall, six patients had metastatic disease to the peritoneal cavity, only one of whom had undergone earlier percutaneous biliary drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal cytology was not predictive of occult metastatic disease. Laparoscopic staging identified some patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma, but analysis of peritoneal cytology provided no additional information. There was no association between percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and peritoneal tumor seeding. © 2001 by the American College of Surgeons.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; human cell; cancer staging; laparoscopy; peritoneal neoplasms; peritoneum lavage; cancer cytodiagnosis; endoscopic surgery; jaundice; bile duct carcinoma; bile duct neoplasms; bile ducts, intrahepatic; cholangiocarcinoma; biliary tract drainage; peritoneum metastasis; peritoneal lavage; occult cancer; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article; percutaneous transhepatic drainage
Journal Title: Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Volume: 193
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1072-7515
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2001-12-01
Start Page: 620
End Page: 625
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/s1072-7515(01)01065-1
PUBMED: 11768678
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Leslie H Blumgart
    352 Blumgart
  2. Ronald P DeMatteo
    637 DeMatteo
  3. Robert Martin
    20 Martin
  4. William R Jarnagin
    907 Jarnagin
  5. Yuman Fong
    775 Fong
  6. Karen T Brown
    178 Brown