Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Culture and Imaging of Ex Vivo Organotypic Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Tumor Slices from Resected Human Tumor Specimens
Published on: December 9, 2022
[Pseudomyxoma peritonei. Two-case-report]
Ixchel Carranza-Martínez1, Gilberto Cornejo-López1, Montserrat Monroy-Argumedo1
1Cirugía General, Hospital Ángeles del Pedregal, México DF, Mexico.
Background:
Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a disease characterized by an intraperitoneal adenomucinous tumor cell disemination, being cecal appendix the most common etiology.
Objective:
To report a surgeon's group experience and a detailed up to date literature review.
Clinical Cases:
1. A 74 year old woman with a history of four days with mesogastrium and right lower quadrant abdominal pain associated with diarrhea and fever was admitted to our institution. Upon admission she presented with signs of peritoneal irritation and muscular rigidity, leukocytosis of 14,500 cels/mm(3), 89% neutrophils and 1% bands. An acute appendicitis diagnosis was established, being scheduled for diagnostic laparoscopy, during procedure, significant bowel distention was found, so conversion to laparotomy was required. Case 2. A 73 year old male with a history of one year with intermittent abdominal pain at right iliac fossa and hypogastrium was admitted to our institution. Dyspnea, constipation alternating with periods of diarrhea, gastric fullness and heartburn occurred. On physical examination only a palpable tumor occupying mesogastrium and both iliac fossae was noticed, therefore, a laparotomy was performed. In both cases diagnoses were made during procedure, finding multiple scattered multilobulated mucinous tumor implants within the peritoneal cavity. Histopathological studies confirmed a pseudomyxoma peritonei diagnoses.
Conclusions:
Peritoneal pseudomyxoma is a rare malignant tumor with a difficult diagnosis characterized by copious production of mucinous ascites and multiple tumors implants on serosa of intracavitary viscera. The gold standard treatment consists of cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy and/or adjuvant chemotherapy.
Insights
Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare condition of widespread abdominal mucinous tumors, often originating from the appendix. Diagnosis can be challenging, requiring surgical intervention and histopathology for confirmation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Pseudomyxoma peritonei involves intraperitoneal dissemination of adenomucinous tumor cells.
- The cecal appendix is the most frequent primary origin for this condition.
Observation:
- Two cases are presented: a 74-year-old female with acute abdominal pain and a 73-year-old male with chronic abdominal discomfort.
- Initial diagnoses included acute appendicitis and abdominal mass, respectively.
- Surgical exploration revealed extensive, scattered mucinous tumor implants throughout the peritoneal cavity.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination confirmed pseudomyxoma peritonei in both patients.
- The disease is characterized by mucinous ascites and peritoneal tumor seeding.
- Diagnosis is often made during surgical procedures due to its rarity and complex presentation.
Implications:
- Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare malignancy with challenging diagnosis and characteristic mucinous ascites.
- The standard treatment involves cytoreductive surgery combined with perioperative and/or adjuvant chemotherapy.
