Dissemination of Melanoma Cells Within Electrocautery Plume

Background: The observed occurrence of port site recurrence in laparoscopic surgery for malignant disease has stimulated interest in the dissemination of tumor cells during surgery. Study of electrocautery smoke has revealed the presence of large particles and viable viruses. The purpose of this study was to determine if viable malignant cells are present in suspension within the electrocautery plume.

Methods: Pellets of B16-F0 mouse melanoma cells were cauterized and the plume collected into culture medium. In part 1 of this study, the trypan blue assay was used to assess cell viability immediately after collection and 7 days later. A cautery current of 30 W was applied for 5 minutes. In part 2, the tetrazolium (MTT) viability assay was used to assess cell viability after cauterization of tumor pellets at 10, 20, and 30 W for 5 seconds.

Results: Although intact melanoma cells were identified with the trypan blue assay immediately after plume collection, no viable cells were seen at 7 days using this assay. In part 2, viable melanoma cells were present in the culture wells at 7 days. Lower fulguration currents appeared to yield higher cell counts: 2,250 cells/well at 10 W, 2,100 cells/well at 20 W, and 1,800 cells/well at 30 W.

Conclusions: Results of this study confirm that application of electrocautery to a pellet of melanoma cells releases these cells into the plume. These cells are viable and may be grown in culture. This release of malignant cells may explain the appearance of port metastases at sites that are remote from the surgical dissection or that were never in direct contact with the tumor.