Prognostic role of positive peritoneal cytology in patients with resectable gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prognostic value of positive peritoneal lavage in patients with gastric cancer without signs of peritoneal or hematogenous spread. METHODS We evaluated patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated with curative intent operation. The peritoneal lavage was classified as positive or negative for neoplastic cells. We obtained demographics, performance status, histology and type of surgery. The results were statistically compared and were considered significant for values of p <0.05. RESULTS We included 72 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. During a mean follow up of 26 months (one to 39 months) we observed 20 local or distant recurrences and 21 deaths. Only the presence of lymph node metastases and the need for resection of adjacent organs were associated with a significant reduction in relapse-free survival. There was a significant reduction in overall survival in patients with angio-lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, requiring resection of multiple organs, need for total gastrectomy and greater invasion of the gastric wall. The presence of tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity was associated with worse overall survival, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION There was no statistically significant associations between positive peritoneal citology and recurrence-free survival or overall survival among patients with resectable gastric cancer.