Ascitic fluid analysis for the differentiation of malignancy-related and nonmalignant ascites. Proposal of a diagnostic sequence

Cancer. 1991 Oct 15;68(8):1808-14. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19911015)68:8<1808::aid-cncr2820680827>3.0.co;2-6.

Abstract

The authors tried to differentiate malignancy-related from nonmalignant ascites with a sequence of sensitive followed by specific ascitic-fluid parameters. There were four results of this study. First, of nine parameters investigated in a first series of 48 patients, 28 with nonmalignant and 20 with malignancy-related ascites, ascitic-fluid cholesterol and fibronectin yielded the best negative predictive value of 92% each. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytologic examination both showed a positive predictive value of 100%. Second, combining cytologic examination (sensitivity, 70%) and CEA determination (sensitivity, 45%) increased the sensitivity to 80%. Third, cytologic findings were negative in all ascitic-fluid samples with a cholesterol concentration below the cutoff value of 45 mg/100 ml. Fourth, based on the results of the first series of 48 patients, the diagnostic sequence with cholesterol as a sensitive parameter, followed by the combination of cytologic examination and CEA determination as specific parameters, was tested in a second series of 71 patients, 37 with nonmalignant and 34 with malignancy-related ascites. Again cytologic examination was negative in all samples with cholesterol levels below 45 mg/100 ml. In the total of 119 patients, this diagnostic sequence did not identify 9% of patients with malignancy-related ascites, and 82% of samples classified as malignancy related by cholesterol levels above 45 mg/100 ml were confirmed by positive cytologic examination and/or CEA level above 2.5 ng/ml. Thus, a diagnostic sequence with ascitic-fluid cholesterol determination, followed by cytologic examination and CEA determination, in samples with cholesterol levels above 45 mg/100 ml should permit a cost-efficient routine differentiation of malignancy-related from nonmalignant ascites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ascitic Fluid / chemistry*
  • Ascitic Fluid / etiology
  • Ascitic Fluid / pathology
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis
  • Cholesterol / analysis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fibronectins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Proteins / analysis
  • ROC Curve
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • Fibronectins
  • Proteins
  • Cholesterol