Review the literature on positive peritoneal cytology in endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma, its prognostic value, proposed treatment strategies, and future avenues of investigation.

PubMed search of articles pertaining to stage IIIA endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma identified over 50 articles that were reviewed. Low-risk stage IIIA1 was defined as those with grade 1 or 2 disease, no evidence of cervical involvement, myometrial invasion less than 50% and no lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI). Analysis of available data was completed with weighted averages, Student's-t-test and Chi square statistical analyses.

Incidence of positive washings is approximately 11%. In low-risk stage IIIA1 endometrial carcinoma patients, the rate of recurrence is 4.1%. In contrast, in high-risk stage IIIA1 endometrial carcinoma patients the rate of recurrence is 32%, a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Positive peritoneal cytology is associated with an increased incidence of extrauterine disease but is not consistently linked to other high-risk factors such as positive lymph node status, extent of myometrial invasion or LVSI.

To date there is no definitive consensus on the prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology alone. However, even in the low-risk cohort with stage IIIA1 some patients will recur. Adjuvant therapy for low-risk stage IIIA diseased may or may not be of benefit. High-risk disease should be treated with chemotherapy, radiation or a combination thereof. A prospective, multicenter trial of comprehensively surgically staged patients with stage IIIA endometrial cancer is indicated in order to clearly define prognosis and treatment for these patients.