CYTOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS OF PERITONEAL FLUIDS - APPLICABILITY TO THE LAPAROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of cytologic examination of lapar oscopically obtained peritoneal fluid in the diagnosis of endometriosi s. STUDY DESIGN: This investigation analyzed 50 laparoscopic fluid spe cimens received over a three-year period. Retrospective cytologic find ings were correlated with clinical history and laparoscopic diagnoses. Touch preparations were also collected from necropsies to develop cyt ologic criteria necessary to distinguish endometrial cells from mesoth elial cells. RESULTS: The presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages in peritoneal fluids was more specific but less sensitive than the prese nce of endometrial cells for the diagnosis of endometriosis. CONCLUSIO N: In women undergoing laparoscopy to detect endometriosis, the identi fication of endometrial cells alone in peritoneal fluids may not be su fficient to render a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis. However, t he presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages in this population should alert the cytologist to that possibility.