Tissue culture of cells in serous effusions. Evaluation as an adjunct to cytology

Cell pellets from peritoneal, pleural and pericardial effusions from thirty-six patients were incubated in tissue culture medium. Both the culture supernatants and the cell monolayers in the flasks were examined for malignant cells. Of the ten cases diagnosed as positive for malignant cells by the conventional cytologic smears, eight were positive on examination of the tissue culture supernatants and only six were positive by analysis of the monolayers. All the cases diagnosed as positive from the culture supernatants and from the monolayers were also positive by the conventional smear method. Hence, tissue culture of cells in serous effusions is not helpful as an adjunct to routine diagnostic cytology techniques.