Selection criteria for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in gastric cancer

Peritoneal carcinomatosis in gastric cancer is associated with a dismal prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy is not effective because of the existence of a blood-peritoneal barrier. Cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy can improve survival and quality of life in selected patients. Patient selection for this multimodal approach is one of the most critical issues, and calls for interdisciplinary evaluation by radiologists, medical and surgical oncologists, and anaesthetists. This article sets forth criteria for selection of gastric cancer patients suffering from peritoneal carcinomatosis.