Psammomacarcinoma is a rare histologic subtype of serous carcinoma originat
ing in the. ovary or peritoneum, characterized by massive psammoma body for
mation, invasiveness, and low-grade differentiation. Its clinical behavior
appears similar to that of serous borderline tumors rather than that of typ
ical invasive serous carcinomas. Peritoneal psammomacarcinoma is even rarer
than its ovarian counterpart with only 10 cases have previously been docum
ented in the literature. A case of F.I.G.O. stage IIIC peritoneal psammomac
arcinoma is described. Optimal debulking surgery, including omentectomy, to
tal abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, and resection of segment
of jejunum, was performed. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy with
taxol and cisplatin, and to date, 15 months after surgery, she is alive an
d with no evidence of disease. It is concluded that peritoneal psammomacarc
inoma is a very rare tumor that behaves less aggressively than typical sero
us carcinoma. The mainstay of treatment is surgical debulking. The role of
adjuvant chemotherapy has as yet not been established. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc
ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.