[Primary tumors of the retroperitoneal space]

Symptoms, therapy, and prognosis of primary tumours of the peritoneum are reported in this paper, with reference being made to 86 malignant and 24 benign cases. The palpable tumour, impaired condition, and uncharacteristic abdominal pain were major symptoms. Intravenous urography and selective angiography, complementarily flanked and supported by computer tomography and sonography have proved to be important and valuable diagnostic methods. Only 23 per cent of malignant and 62 per cent of benign tumours were operable. Complete extirpation of the tumour was found to be the only promising therapy. Postoperative lethality after total extirpation amounted to ten per cent. Combination of surgical with radiotherapeutic approaches has proved to be favourable. The five-year survival rate accounted for 9.8 per cent or 44 per cent, following radical surgery.