INTRAPERITONEAL HYPERTHERMIC CHEMOTHERAPY (IPHC), A PROMISING TREATMENT OF PERITONEAL CARCINOMATOSIS

Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC), a promising treatmen t of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemother apy (IPHC) appears to be a promishing treatment of peritoneal carcinom atosis. This paper reports the physio-pathological background of IPHC and the various studies which have been published in the literature. I t points out the heterogeneity of these series and discuss the most cr itical points as surgical indications, choice of the antineoplastic dr ugs, their doses, temperatures of the IPHC, extend of the cytoreductiv e surgery, morbidity and mortality. Finally, several options are propo sed for those points which are not yet standardized.