[Possibilities and limits of surgical therapy of pseudomyxoma peritonei]

In a retrospective study, the potential and limitations of surgical therapy of pseudomyxoma peritonei were studied in seven patients. In all patients the pseudomyxoma had originated from the appendix. All patients were primarily treated by surgery. An R0 resection at the first operation was possible in only one patient with a benign pseudomyxoma, while significant tumor debulking with improved symptoms was achieved in all other patients. If the tumor recurred relaparotomy was performed to obtain tumor reduction. The perioperative morbidity even after multiple relaparotomies was low. The survival rates ranged between 2 and 20 years with chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil) which was of particular prognostic benefit in patients with malignant pseudomyxoma peritonei. Surgical therapy is the treatment of choice in pseudomyxoma peritonei, although an R0 resection is hardly feasible. Due to the low morbidity, relaparotomy in cases of tumor recurrence always appears to be indicated. In comparison to other gastrointestinal malignancies, the survival rates in pseudomyxoma peritonei, sometimes treated with additive chemotherapy, are superior.