Ascitic Fluid Cytology- Rewarding Tool in the Discovery of Unknown - Abstract
Background: Ascites is a common clinical finding with wide range of etiology. Peritoneal fluid analysis – most efficient method of diagnosing cause of the peritoneal effusion. Incorrelation with clinical history and physical examination, benign and malignant cause of effusion can be identified by cytology, for proper management of the patient. Materials and Methods: One year retrospective study of 144 cases of centrifuged ascitic fluid were subjected to cytological examination. Results: Most cases of ascites were under the age group of 45- 60 years. Cases with known etiology- 124(among which 79% were benign, 21% were malignant). Cases with unknown
etiology- 20 (malignant effusion were diagnosed with the help of cytological examination). Conclusion: The primary role of ascitic fluid cytology is the detection of malignancy. In patients without known malignancy, cytological evaluation may not only be able to identify the presence of tumour cells but also classify its type. In patients with malignancy, the presence of tumour cells has prognostic implication. Since peritoneal fluid cytology is a cost effective and rapid diagnostic method- it must be done as a routine procedure in patients with peritoneal effusion.