Results of cytodiagnosis guided under endoscopic control in 248 cases of digestive cancer
Rachail-Arnoux, M.; Aubert, H.; Zarski, J.P.; Couderc, P.; Faure, H.; Pedotti, C.; Rachail, M.
Gastroenterologie Clinique et Biologique 7(2): 158-163
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0399-8320 PMID: 6840462 Document Number: 215034
The clinical utility and the indications of endoscopic digestive cytology after a 12-yr experience with the technique were evaluated. A total of 248 cases of digestive carcinomas (esophagus 44, stomach 114, colon or rectum 90) which were studied by endoscopic cytology and biopsies were investigated. A positive diagnostic response with cytology (classes IV and V of Papanicolaou's classification) was observed in 88% of these cases. Among the 114 patients with gastric carcinoma, biopsies were positive in 12 cases whereas endoscopic cytology was negative; conversely, cytology was positive in 5 cases in which biopsies were of uncertain interpretation. The positive diagnostic score of endoscopic cytology-biopsy association was 97%. As far as gastric carcinoma was concerned, the specificity of cytology was 92% and its sensitivity 90%. Because of its diagnostic efficiency, cytology coupled to biopsies should be systematically used in the course of digestive endoscopy. The comparison of the results of blind cytology to those of endoscopic cytology shows that the latter is strikingly more efficient. The population groups in whom endoscopic digestive cytology should be performed as a screening test for digestive carcinoma remains to be determined.