False positive malignant peritoneal cytology and psammoma bodies in benign gynecologic disease.

Objective: To determine the incidence of false positive malignant peritoneal cytology and psammoma bodies associated with benign gynecologic disorders.

Study Design: Pelvic peritoneal fluid was prospectively collected for cytologic examination from 119 women undergoing laparoscopy for benign conditions (infertility, 67; pelvic pain, 35; elective sterilization, 17). The median age was 30.

False-positive malignant peritoneal cytology associated with pelvic endometriosis.

The peritoneal washings obtained at diagnostic laparoscopy of two women with suspected endometriosis contained cells with cytologic features of adenocarcinoma. Exploratory laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and pelvic washings confirmed endometriosis with no evidence of cancer. At 1.