Role of positive peritoneal cytology in FIGO stage IB to IIB cervical adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic relevance of positive peritoneal cytology in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.

METHODS: The present study included patients diagnosed with FIGO stage IB to IIB cervical adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery at a hospital in Beijing, China, between December 1, 2000, and December 31, 2015. Baseline data were retrieved from patient medical records and follow-up data were collected through telephone interviews. The relationship between positive peritoneal cytology and the patients' clinicopathological features, and their prognosis was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards modeling.

RESULTS: There were 136 patients who met the inclusion criteria and participated in interviews. Peritoneal cytology was positive in 13 (9.6%) patients. The 5-year survival rate of patients with positive and negative cytology was 69.2% and 95.7%, respectively (P<0.001). The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate in the two groups was 76.2% and 91.3%, respectively (P=0.041). Cox regression analysis showed pelvic lymph node involvement and vaginal invasion to be independent adverse risk factors for survival. The recurrence rate in the positive cytology group was significantly higher than that in the negative cytology group (38.5% vs 7.3%; P=0.002).

CONCLUSION: Positive peritoneal cytology in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma was associated with a poor prognosis and a higher recurrence rate, but it was not an independent prognostic factor.