Cystic peritoneal mesothelioma: Report of a case

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease, especially when it arises in a c ystic form with tardive and often nonspecific symptoms. While diffuse neopl asms have an unfavorable prognosis, cystic forms are usually benign. An acc urate diagnosis can only be made only with electron microscopy and immunohi stochemical studies. A 92-year-old woman with an ultrastructurally ascertai ned cystic peritoneal mesothelioma was admitted to the hospital's emergency ward, and was considered to be unusual because of the size of the mass and the patient's age. A review of the literature is made, and the clinical an d diagnostic aspects of this disease are also discussed.