Peritoneal carcinomatosis: Image-guided peritoneal core biopsy for tumor type and patient care

PURPOSE: To assess image-guided peritoneal core biopsy for the diagnosis of tumor type and treatment of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five women (age range, 47-85 years; mean age, 69 years) prospectively identified in a gynecologic oncology center underw ent 18-gauge core biopsy in omental cake (n = 25), peritoneal (n = 7), or a dnexal (n = 3) sites. No complications of biopsy occurred. Standard hematox ylin-eosin analysis of the biopsy cores was supplemented by immunohistochem ical markers to CA-125, carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 7, and cytoke ratin 20. Diagnoses were validated with further multidisciplinary review, s ubsequent surgery, and response to specific chemotherapy. RESULTS: In 27 (77%) of the 35 women, a confident primary site diagnosis wa s obtained with standard hematoxylin-eosin analysis of core biopsy material from the following sites: ovary (n = 22), breast (n = 2), colon (n = 2), a nd lymphoma (n = 1). The finding at hematoxylin-eosin analysis in another s even (20%) women was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with no definite primary site but with an immunohistochemical profile suggesting ovarian can cer (CA-125 positive, carcinoembryonic antigen negative, cytokeratin 7 posi tive, cytokeratin 20 negative). There was one false-negative biopsy result. CONCLUSION: Image-guided peritoneal core biopsy with hematoxylin-eosin anal ysis supplemented with immunohistochemical analysis is a simple, safe, and accurate technique for providing site-specific diagnoses in women with undi agnosed peritoneal carcinomatosis.