Fungal peritonitis and cancer near the abdominal regions

Introduction: Guidelines have recommended that structured programs should be introduced to support fungal peritonitis in cancer patients. The role of fungi is rare in causing peritonitis, but fungal peritonitis has high morbidity and mortality. The abdominal fullness may be secondary to the fungi accumulation of peritoneal fluid. The isolation of fungi, particularly Candida, from peritoneal fluid sles is an increasingly common occurrence in patients with cancer near abdominal region which creates a hypothesis on the role of fungi as a pathogen or an innocent bystander in the disease process. Materials and methods: In this paper, all the relevant papers about the analysis of clinical signs, diagnosis and management fungal peritonitis in cancer patients particularly those near abdominal region were reviewed. An extensive search was undertaken of texts published during 1950-2012 using identified keywords and index terms. Results: It seems that tumor-related local factors permit fungi to cross the gut wall and enter the peritoneum, resulting in the growth of fungi, inflammation, and weakening of the immune system in peritonitis. In this regard, treatment is very difficult due to lack of specific clinical signs and difficulty in isolating pathogenic organisms from clinical specimen. Conclusion: Examination of peritoneal fluid for the fungal element (direct microscopic exam and culture) is necessary in malignant patients with inflammation of peritoneum.