OBJECTIVETo explore the clinicopathological factors affecting positive cells in peritoneal lavage of gastric carcinoma.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 163 patients undergoing radical operation for gastric carcinoma and receiving cytology examination of peritoneal lavage (1000 ml normal saline) in our department from June 2013 to May 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Pathology and immunohistochemistry were performed for resected lesions and harvested lymph nodes. Affecting factors of peritoneal lavage cytology were evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic analyses.

RESULTSThe positive rate of exfoliative carcinoma cells was 9.2%(15/163). Univariate analysis showed that pathologic staging, depth of invasion, N staging, lymph node metastasis, station of positive lymph node, metastatic rate of lymph node, metastatic rate of the second station of lymph node, and carcinoma differentiation degree were associated with the positive rate of peritoneal lavage cytology (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed only the metastatic rate of the second station of lymph node was independent risk factor of positive exfoliative cells in peritoneal lavage.

CONCLUSIONThe metastatic rate of the second station of lymph node is an independent risk factor of positive exfoliative cells in peritoneal lavage for gastric cancer patients.