Factors Affecting Positive Peritoneal Lavage Cytology in Patients with Stage II and III Colorectal Cancer with R0 Resection: A Multi-institutional, Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the risk factors associated with cancer cell exfoliation in Stage II and III colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, observational study targeted 1,698 patients with cStage II and III CRC who underwent R0 resection between 2013 and 2017. Clinicopathological variables were analyzed for correlations with positive peritoneal lavage cytology (PLC). RESULTS: The positive PLC rate was 2.7% (46/1,694 cases) at laparotomy and 1.6% (25/1,590 cases) after tumor resection. Logistic regression analyses identified that undifferentiated histologies diagnosed by preoperative biopsy specimen, cT4, and pN+ were independent factors that affected the positive PLC at laparotomy. The positive PLC rate at laparotomy was 4.5% (33/736 cases) among the patients with undifferentiated histology and/or cT4. Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of ascites and undifferentiated histology by biopsy independently affected positive PLC after tumor resection. CONCLUSIONS: The undifferentiated histology and/or T4 indicated by preoperative diagnosis were identified as factors affecting PLC at laparotomy. Furthermore, ascites and preoperative histological type were identified as factors affecting positive PLC after tumor resection. As factors affecting positive PLC, these preoperative findings were found to be equivalent to pathological findings.