Intraperitoneal cytology after laparoscopic hysterectomy in patients with endometrial cancer A retrospective observational study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dissemination of cancer cells at laparoscopic hysterectomy according to the intraperitoneal cytology. Patients with endometrial cancer underwent total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy. Peritoneal wash cytology was performed on entering the peritoneal cavity before surgical preparation and just after hysterectomy. Seventy-eight patients underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Among the 15 patients who had positive intraperitoneal cytology on entering the peritoneal cavity, 10 converted to negative intraperitoneal cytology after hysterectomy. In contrast, among the 63 patients who had negative intraperitoneal cytology on entering the peritoneal cavity, 2 converted to positive intraperitoneal cytology after hysterectomy. While surgery can reduce the number of cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity, leakage can occur, as seen in some cases of hysterectomy. Careful washing must be performed after hysterectomy.