It is very important and difficult to differenciate metastatic adenocarcinoma cells and reactive mesothelial cells in serous effusion and several diagnostic adjuncts to cytology were introduced, such as immunocytochemical stain, flow cytometry
and
cytogenetic studies.
44 malignant effusion of metastatic origin and 23 reactive effusions were studied with immunocytochemical stain using antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen and vimentin to evaluate the usefulness of these two antigens when one differentiates
metastatic
adenocarcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells in serous effusion.
@ES The results are as follows:
@EN 1) The sensitivity of CEA for metastatic adenocarcinoma cells is 63.63% from various organ including stomach, intestine, pancreas, gall bladder, liver lung, ovary and 80.95% from gastric adenocarcinoma and specificity is 99.51%.
2) The sensitivity of vimentin for reactive mesothelial cell is 94.02% and specificity is 97.7%.
In conclusion, carcinoembryonic antigen and vimentin are good immunocytochemical markers for differentiation of metastatic adenocarcinoma from reactive mesothelial cells, especially in metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
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