Utility Of Serosal Stamp Cytology As An Indicator For High-Risk Peritoneal Metastasis In Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Background/Aims: Although peritoneal lavage cytology is widely performed during surgery for gastric cancer and the results have been reported to provide an accurate prognostic factor, its value has not been well established in colorectal cancer. In this study, we demonstrated the utility of serosal stamp cytology from the viewpoint of cell adhesion molecules.Methodology: Between 1997 and 1999, peritoneal lavage cytology and serosal stamp cytology were performed in 34 patients with resectable colorectal cancer. Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) was examined as an index of the progress degree of peritoneal metastasis.Results: Although peritoneal lavage cytology was positive in one case, serosal stamp cytology was positive in 10 cases. E-cadherin expression was lost in all peritoneal lavage cytology and or serosal stamp cytology positive patients.Conclusions: Our data indicate that serosal stamp cytology is more sensitive and simple than peritoneal lavage cytology. Serosal stamp cytology may be useful in identifying patients at high risk for peritoneal recurrence.