Peritoneal fluid cytology in solid abdominal malignancies in children

Abstract

Background: The presence of malignant tumor cells in the peritoneal fluid implies tumoral spread past the confinements of the primary abdominal malignancy. The prognostic value of peritoneal fluid cytology in staging solid malignant abdominal tumors in children is unknown. [Here] we aim to explore the use of the peritoneal fluid cytology and its impact on staging solid abdominal malignancies in children. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of 161 patients admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), Lebanon, was conducted. The review included children presented with solid abdominal malignancies and who had undergone resection or biopsy of the tumor between January 2008 and July 2018. Results: One hundred and sixty-one children with solid abdominal malignant tumors were included. Peritoneal fluid cytology was requested in three out of seventy-seven neuroblastoma patients (4%), and ten out of forty-four patients with Wilm's tumor (21%). Positive cytology resulted in escalating the management plan of two patients with Wilm's tumor whereby they were upstaged from stages-l and II to stage-Ill. Conclusion: Peritoneal fluid cytology is not commonly performed for children with solid abdominal malignancies. Further data is needed to explore the usability of the peritoneal fluid cytology in children with abdominal solid malignancies; this data could be generated in the future by routinely obtaining peritoneal fluid cytology in these patients. © 2021 Lebanese Order of Physicians. All rights reserved.