Management of peritoneal carcinomatosis

Gastrointestinal malignancies frequently recur with metastatic disease limited to the abdominal cavity. Due to full thickness penetration of tumor through bowel wall and spillage of tumor from lymphatic channels by surgical trauma, tumor cells are disseminated throughout the peritoneal surfaces either prior to at the time of surgical removal of the primary tumor. Diagnosis of recurrent cancer is difficult because no sensitive diagnostic test is available by which to image a small tumor volume present on peritoneal surfaces. Computerized tomography can not demonstrate small to moderate nodules. Intraperitoneal instillation of 131-1 labeled monoclonal antibody has allowed visualization of mucinous tumor on peritoneal surfaces not seen by any other radiologic test. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been shown to provide palliation in patients with small volume disease confined to peritoneal surfaces. Because of limited penetration of chemotherapy into large tumor nodules this treatment strategy has not been effective for bulky intraabdominal recurrent cancer. Cytoreductive surgery can make patients relatively disease free. New surgical technologies combined with postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy have been shown to be curative for selected patients with recurrent cystadenocarcinoma. The wider application of immediate postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy treatments for gastrointestinal patients in an adjuvant setting may be of value in preventing the occurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis and in improving survival.