Prognostic Value of Intraoperative Pleural Lavage Cytology as an Independent Prognostic Factor in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to demonstrate that intraoperative PLC has a role in predicting clinical outcomes in NSCLC patients.MethodsIntraoperative PLC was performed in NSCLC patients who had no pleural effusion before the operation. PLC was performed three times for each patient. PLC1 was performed after the thoracotomy; PLC2 was performed immediately after complete operation; and PLC3 was performed after complete operation and washed the pleural cavity with 5,000 ml of normal saline solution. Clinical records of 178 patients in Ramathibodi Hospital from 2012 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed and analysed for the relevance of intraoperative PLC and clinical outcomes.Results178 patients were included in this study; 67 patients were male (37.6%). Metastatic tumour from primary lung cancer occurred in 56 patients (31.4%). Positive intraoperative PLC was significantly associated with higher metastatic rate (p < 0.05). Survival rate in the positive intraoperative PLC group was significantly worse than that in the negative PLC group (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study shows positive intraoperative PLC was statistically significant for increasing metastatic rate and decreasing survival rate in NSCLC patients. Intraoperative PLC could provide important information for the prediction of disease progression and treatment planning.