Results of treatment of 33 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma

Background: Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare peritoneal malignancy, repres enting approximately one-third of all mesotheliomas. It is regarded as a un iversally fatal cancer with few treatment options. Methods: Records of 33 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic, clinical and quantitative prognostic indicato rs were evaluated and analysed statistically using survival as endpoint. Pa tients were treated by a uniform strategy involving cytoreductive surgery w ith 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 1 3. Presentation was mainly abdominal distension and pain. Median survival w as 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 manag ement has occurred. Survival has been extended and selection factors by whi ch patients may be allocated to aggressive management strategies have been defined.