[Classification of peritoneal carcinosis and differentiation from pseudomyxoma peritonei]

Pathological classification of peritoneal carcinomatosis depends on the underlying tumor-entities. For confirmation cytodiagnostic is a simple and reliable method allowing differential diagnosis of non-epithelial primaries. For the early detection of peritoneal dissemination peritoneal lavage should be done routinely at first operation of gastrointestinal tumors. Pseudomyxoma peritonei signifies a clinical condition, pathological classification requires evaluation of the primary lesion most often localised in the appendix which should be resected in all instances and entirely submitted for histological examination. For prognostic consideration additionally the peritoneal implants must be thoroughly sampled.