[Pseudomyxoma of the peritoneum. Apropos of 4 cases]

Peritoneal pseudomyxoma is a rare disease (400 published cases). In 60% of all cases, an ovarian tumor is the cause of the disease. The second cause is appendicular mucocele. We report about four personal cases after a longer time lapse. No clinical or biological sign is specific. Ultrasonography associated to CT may allow establishing the preoperative diagnosis. Peritoneal pseudomyxoma has several main features: it is insidious, recurrent, obstinate and severe. Recent work has shown that peritoneal pseudomyxoma is secondary to malignant mucosecretory tumors, mainly of ovarian (cystadenocarcinoma) or appendicular origin, with intraperitoneal cell implants. Surgery is the only treatment with proven effectiveness. The effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy has not been established.