What is peritoneal carcinosis?
Peritoneal carcinosis is the spread of a neoplasm that originated in the peritoneum, a membrane that covers the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal carcinosis usually results from a tumor of the appendix, colon-rectum or ovaries, but can also arise from rare primitive tumors (e.g., mesothelioma).
Symptoms of peritoneal carcinosis
The symptoms of peritoneal carcinosis are vague. The most common are abdominal pain, weight loss, anorexia and are often associated with an enlarged abdomen due to tumor growth.
What is the treatment?
Treatment of this neoplasm involves radical removal, by cytoreductive surgery, of all visible nodules. In some cases, resection of abdominal and intestinal organs (spleen, ovaries, uterus, liver) will also be necessary. After completion of the procedure, intraperitoneal chemotherapy will be performed directly in the operating room in order to remove the residues and clean the abdominal cavity. This type of chemotherapy is performed in hyperthermia (increasing the patient’s body temperature) to enhance the effect of the drugs. After the operation, the patient remains in intensive care for 24 hours to monitor vital parameters. The hospitalization period can vary between 10 and 30 days.