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Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting as intestinal obstruction

John Griniatsos1, Stavros Sougioultzis, Nikoletta Dimitriou

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Medical School, LAIKO Hospital, Athens, Greece. johngriniatsos@yahoo.com

Southern Medical Journal
|September 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) can present atypically. Three patients without asbestos exposure or ascites developed bowel obstruction, highlighting a rare but critical DMPM presentation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) is a rare cancer, typically associated with asbestos exposure and ascites.
  • It predominantly affects individuals aged 50-69, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms like abdominal pain and weight loss.

Observation:

  • This report details three DMPM cases in patients lacking asbestos exposure history and ascites.
  • These patients uniquely presented with complete bowel obstruction as their primary symptom.

Findings:

  • All three patients required emergency surgery for palliative procedures due to bowel obstruction.
  • The disease progression was rapid, with all patients succumbing to the illness within 3 to 6 months post-operation.

Implications:

  • These cases underscore the importance of considering DMPM in patients with unexplained bowel obstruction, even without typical risk factors.
  • Early diagnosis and management strategies for atypical DMPM presentations warrant further investigation to improve patient outcomes.

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