Recurrence patterns and prognosis in lung cancer patients with positive pleural lavage cytology at surgery

: Recurrence patterns and prognosis in lung cancer patients with positive pleural lavage cytology (PLC) at surgery have not been completely understood. From January 2001 to October 2007, we performed PLC on 195 patients undergoing thoracotomy for lung cancer. Fourteen (7.2%) of 195 patients had positive PLC findings. Twenty seven patients who underwent limited surgery due to complication were excluded from the further investigation. Some form of recurrence was observed in 33 (21.2%) of 156 patients with negative PLC, and in 8 (66.7%) of 12 patients with positive PLC (p < 0.05). The local recurrence was observed in 13 (39.4%) of 33 patients who have recurrence with negative PLC and was observed in 4 (25%) of 8 patients who have recurrence with positive PLC (p = 0.45). The survival rate of patients with positive PLC was significantly worse than that of patients with negative PLC (p < 0.05), and was as low as that of patients with macroscopic malignant effusion. The multivariate analysis demonstrated PLC was independent prognostic factor. PLC is an easy procedure and is an important prognostic factor, and should be routinely performed in the lung cancer operation.