[Clinical aspects of pseudomyxoma peritonei]

On the basis of two cases the problems of peritoneal pseudomyxoma (PP) are discussed with respect to pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and therapy. The abundant quantities of mucus present in the peritoneal cavity in this syndrome originate primarily in ruptured histologically malignant or benign mucous ovarian cystomas or benign mucocele or mucogenic carcinomas of the appendix, respectively. Independent of the histological findings the clinical course and consequently the prognosis of PP basically depends on the amounts of mucus present. Besides extirpation of the primary tumour therapy consists primarily in removing mucus as completely as possible, even in the form of repeated interventions. Additional measures are mainly confined to radiotherapy and cytostatic treatment. Recently new possibilities in preoperative diagnosis and postoperative control have been opened up by ultrasound and computed tomography.