Abstract
Objective : We clarified cytological and cytomorphometrical reactive mesothelial cell (RMC) characteristics based on abdominal cavity appearance for circulatory disturbance, liver cirrhosis, carcinomatous penitonitis, and peritoneal dialysis.
Study Design : We analyzed cytological and cytomorphometrical RMC patterns in ascites for 7 cases of circulatory disturbance, 25 of liver cirrhosis, 35 of carcinomatous peritonitis, and 9 of peritoneal dialysis effluent.
Results : Individual cells and 2-to 4-cell clusters accounted for 94.6% to 98.6% of RMCs in each disorder. The mean individual cellular RMC area in peritoneal effluent was largest at 165.2μm2, followed by carcinomatous peritonitis at 145.8μm2, liver cirrhosis at 123.9μm2, and circulatory disturbance at 119.2μm2. Mean nuclear RMC area was 50μm2 in each group and the standard deviation significantly higher than that of nuclear area.
Conclusion : RMCs are cytologically characterized by individual and cell cluster appearance and mild anisokaryosis even in markedly anisocytotic RMCs. Understanding these features is vital to accurate diagnosis in peritoneal effusion cytology.
