[Efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal recurrence of gastric carcinoma]

We report a patient in whom intraperitoneal chemotherapy was effective against peritoneal recurrence of gastric carcinoma. A 74-year-old woman underwent total gastrectomy with splenectomy and transverse colectomy for Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma (curability B) in January 2000. The diagnosis was Stage IV gastric carcinoma (T4, N2, P1, H0, M0 and CY0). In July 2000, peritoneal recurrence occurred along with slight elevation of CEA. In September, two ports were inserted into the upper and lower peritoneal cavity for intraperitoneal chemotherapy with low-dose CDDP and 5-FU plus MMC. She was followed-up for four months as an outpatient and received intraperitoneal chemotherapy biweekly with good control of peritoneal metastasis. However, she died of bone and lung metastases in January 2001. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy was effective in this patient for peritoneal recurrence of gastric carcinoma and could be delivered on an outpatient basis while maintaining the patient's quality of life.