Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice
Published on: December 21, 2019
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: a review
Joseph Kim1, Shanel Bhagwandin1, Daniel M Labow1
1Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Mesothelioma is a malignancy of serosal membranes. It is most commonly encountered in the visceral pleura with the second most common location in the peritoneum. The diagnosis is very rare and has been linked to toxic exposure to industrial pollutants, especially asbestos. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) commonly presents with diffuse, extensive spread throughout the abdomen with rare metastatic spread beyond the abdominal cavity. Due to its rarity and nonspecific symptoms, it is usually diagnosed late when the disease burden is extensive. Because pleural mesothelioma is more common than MPM, most research has been on the pleural variant and extrapolated for MPM. While treatment advances have been made for MPM, the disease is universally fatal from either abdominal complications secondary to the spread of disease or starvation. Untreated, the life expectancy is less than a year. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has become the mainstay of therapy with systemic therapies still being developed. We will review the epidemiology of MPM and discuss diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Insights
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Diagnosis is often late, but cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy offers a primary treatment approach.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Mesothelioma is a rare malignancy of serosal membranes, predominantly affecting the pleura and peritoneum.
- Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is strongly associated with asbestos exposure and typically presents with diffuse abdominal spread.
- Nonspecific symptoms and rarity lead to late diagnosis, often when the disease burden is extensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM).
- To discuss current diagnostic strategies for MPM.
- To outline established and developing treatment approaches for MPM.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data concerning MPM.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and challenges for MPM.
- Evaluation of current therapeutic modalities, including cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Main Results:
- MPM is a rare, aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis if untreated, typically fatal within a year.
- Late diagnosis is common due to nonspecific symptoms and disease rarity.
- Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the current standard of care.
Conclusions:
- MPM remains a challenging diagnosis with a universally fatal outcome, often due to abdominal complications.
- Advances in treatment, particularly CRS with HIPEC, represent the mainstay of current therapeutic efforts.
- Further research into systemic therapies is ongoing to improve outcomes for MPM patients.
