Primary Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Case report and update of therapy

Background and Objectives: Primary Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesotheliom a is a rare disease, with an incidence of 2.2 cases in 1.000.000 in the USA . It occupies 10% of all mesotheliomas referred in literature. Methods: We describe a case of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma ar ising in a 54-year-old woman who presented a small bowel occlusion. A middl e line laparotomy was done; multiple biopsies and an ileostomy were perform ed. There was not a history of exposure to asbestos. Histologic diagnosis w as based on light microscopy, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Patient had no further treatment because of her poor general condi tions. She died 4 months later. Conclusions: Update of treatment is briefly described with particular atten tion to multimodality approach (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) and ot her new therapeutic options (iperthermochemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene th erapy), currently in clinical trials. J. Surg. Oncol. 2000;75:55-58. (C) 20 00 Wiley-Liss, Inc.