Table 1. EpCAM-positive MP detection and cytology in pleural effusions from primitive carcinoma.

DIAGNOSIS	EpCAM + MPs (FCM)	Malignant cells (Cytology)
Lung ADK	+++	++
Lung ADK	+++	+++
Pancreas ADK	+++	+++
Lung ADK	+++	++
Lung ADK	+++	++
Ovarian ADK	+++	+
Breast ADK	+++	++
Lung ADK	+++	+++
Ovarian ADK	+++	+++
Lung ADK	+++	++
Thyroide ADK	+++	++
Lung ADK	+++	+
Lung ADK	+++	+
Breast ADK	+++	++
Neuroendocrin carcinoma	+++	+++
Undifferentiated carcinoma	+++	++
Lung ADK	+++	++
Lung ADK	+++	++
Lung ADK	++	++
Lung ADK	++	+
Lung ADK	++	+
Undifferentiated carcinoma	++	++
Prostate ADK	++	+
Squamous cell carcinoma	++	+
Lung ADK	+	+
Lung ADK	+	++
Lung ADK	+	+
Lung ADK	+	+
Lung ADK	+	+
Lung ADK	+	+
Prostate ADK	+++	−
Head and neck ADK	+	−
Breast ADK	+	−
Lung ADK	−	+
Prostate ADK	−	+++
Colon ADK	−	+++
Breast ADK	−	+
Squamous cell carcinoma	−	+
Pancreas ADK	−	−
Lung ADK	−	−
Lung ADK	−	−
Ovarian ADK	−	−
Lung ADK	−	−

ADK, adenocarcinoma; EpCAM, epithelial cell adhesion molecule; MPs, microparticles; ND, not determined. Positivity was determined by 1) flow cytometry (FCM) according to the following criteria: negative (−), < 2 MPs/μl; positive (+), 2–50 MPs/μl; (++), 50–100 MPs/μl; and (+++), > 100 MPs/μl. 2) Cytology : negative (−), absence; positive (+), < 5%; (++), 5–50%; and (+++), > 50% of malignant cells, respectively. Grey zones are no more visible in the table. discordant results between EpCAM + MPs and cytology