[Pseudomyxoma peritonei. Apropos of 19 cases]

Nineteen patients, 15 women, 4 men, mean age 65 years, were treated for pseudomyxoma peritonei between 1971 and 1991. The clinical onset was generally insidious, predominant signs being ascites (9 cases), a mass (9 cases), distension (8 cases) and abdominal pain (8 cases). Diagnosis was assisted by scan imaging and alteration in serum ACE levels. The initial mucosecreting tumor was appendicular (12 cases), ovarian (11 cases) or both (4 cases). Histology was benign in 17 of the 19 patients. After surgical treatment in all cases, 10 patients relapsed, global survival at 5 years being 65% and at 10 years 49%.