The role of laboratory testing of free peritoneal fluid during an explorative laparotomy in the diagnosis of an extra-ovarian neoplasm.

We present a case in which the diagnosis of the ovarian carcinoma was made only by the free peritoneal fluid cytology as all the other specimens were negative for malignancy. We discuss the role of laboratory testing of the free peritoneal fluid even in small amounts or of the peritoneal drainage in cases of ovarian cystic neoplasms not only for the staging, but also for the diagnosis itself (Ref 16). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.