Malignant ascites: role of the embryological origin of the tumour on ascitic humoral test concentrations

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the embryological origin of the tumour on the ascitic humoral test concentrations. Patients: One hundred and twenty-four patients with extra-hepatic malignancy-related ascites were divided into three groups according to the embryological origin of the tumour: group A (mesoderm) consisted of 52 patients, group B (endoderm) of 55 and group C (ectoderm) of 17. Design: Ascitic fluid (40 ml) was aseptically aspirated and examined routinely for culture by the bedside blood-culture-bottles method for white blood cells, polymorphonuclear cell count per mm 3 , malignant cell test and chemistries. Cytological examination was performed within 2 h of ascitic fluid aspiration