Results of treatment of 33 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Background: Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare peritoneal malignancy, representing approximately one-third of all mesotheliomas. It is regarded as a universally fatal cancer with few treatment options.

Methods: Records of 33 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic, clinical and quantitative prognostic indicators were evaluated and analysed statistically using survival as endpoint. Patients were treated by a uniform strategy involving cytoreductive surgery with peritonectomy procedures and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (cisplatin, doxorubicin).

Results: There were ten women and 23 men; mean age was 53.0 years. Asbestos exposure was recorded in five patients and a family history of cancer in 13. Presentation was mainly abdominal distension and pain. Median survival was 31.0 months; overall projected survival at 3 years was 56 per cent. The most significant positive predictive factors of survival were: female sex (P= 0.003), low prior surgical score (P=0.002), completeness of cytoreduction (P=0.0002) and second-look surgery (P=0.019). The morbidity rate for this combined treatment was 33 per cent and the perioperative mortality rate was 3 per cent.

Conclusion: Although peritoneal mesothelioma is rare, progress in its management has occurred. Survival has been extended and selection factors by which patients may be allocated to aggressive management strategies have been defined.