Clinical Application Of Omental Bursa Washes Detected In Gastric Carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the applied value of omental bursa washes detected in gastric carcinoma.METHODS: The clinical data and omental bursa washes from 78 patients with gastric carcinoma were collected from March 2012 to September 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. All patients were grouped according to whether bursectomy was performed or not: bursectomy and non-bursectomy. We detected the expression of carcino-embryonic antigen(CEA) in omental bursa washes by flow cytometry(FCM). Peritoneal lavage cytology(PLC) examinations were also carried out.RESΜLTS: The FCM and PLC positive rate of omental bursa washes were 37.1%(29/78), 11.5%(9/78) respectively, significant differences were observed(P = 0.001).The positive rate of omental bursa washes correlated well with the width of tumor, location of lesion, depth of invasion(P < 0.05). The age, gender, differentiation, vessel carcinoma embolus, area of invasion were not relevant to omental bursa washes detection. No statistically significant difference was observed in the rate of overall peritoneal metastasis between the two groups(P>0.05).The first year peritoneal metastases rates were 7%(3/41)、16%(6/37), respectively, while the peritoneal metastases ones were positive omental bursa washes.CONCLUSION: FCM can be well used to detect omental bursa washes. The best use of omental bursa washes detected serves better to assess the progression of the tumor and to predict the emergence of gastric carcinoma peritoneal metastases. It’s not essential to perform bursectomy in radical gastrectomy only if the omental bursa washes were positive to delay the time of peritoneal metastases.