Second-look surgery in patients with peritoneal dissemination from appendiceal malignancy: analysis of prognostic...

To establish selection criteria for reoperation in patients with peritoneal dissemination from appendiceal malignancy.

The outcome of patients with mucinous appendiceal neoplasms with peritoneal surface dissemination has changed as a result of a better understanding of the clinical and pathologic features of this disease. This knowledge, combined with aggressive strategies for the use of perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy and peritonectomy procedures, has resulted in long-term disease-free survival in many of these patients. However, some of the patients develop progressive disease, and a question regarding additional surgery is appropriate. A critical analysis of the results of second-look surgery should assist in the management of patients with recurrent peritoneal surface dissemination of an appendiceal neoplasm.

Three hundred twenty-one patients with epithelial peritoneal surface malignancy of appendiceal origin underwent surgery during a 12-year period. Ninety-eight of these patients (30.5%) underwent a second-look procedure. A database of selected clinical features regarding these 98 patients was gathered from the clinical records. A critical statistical analysis of these clinical features and their prognostic impact was performed using survival as an endpoint. All patients were managed by a treatment regimen that used cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

The overall 5-year survival rate of these 98 patients was 73.6%. This compared favorably with a 68% survival rate of 223 patients who did not undergo reoperation. Survival based on the number of cytoreductive surgeries and the free interval between them showed no significant difference. Patients who had second-look surgery with bowel obstruction as a symptom and those in whom the amount of tumor was increased or minimally decreased at the first and second cytoreductions had a significantly inferior 5-year survival rate. A complete second cytoreduction was associated with an improved 5-year survival rate.

Follow-up of patients treated for peritoneal dissemination from neoplasms of appendiceal origin is indicated. Selected patients in whom recurrence develops are candidates for repeat cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal chemotherapy with curative intent.