Pseudomyxoma peritonei: a review of 62 cases

Aim: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease characterized by the abundance of mucus in the abdomen without extra-peritoneal growth. Methods: Our patients with PMP have been treated with cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy since 1996. The clinical and histopathological features of PMP and the relation of these features with disease-free interval and survival were assessed. Results: Sixty-two patients with PMP (24 M/38 F) were studied. Adenomatous mucosal changes were present in 31 patients. In females, the ovaries were normal in 5 patients and pseudomyxoma ovarii was present in 20 patients. Patients with minimal atypia and with 1% focal proliferation or less (n=38) had a better survival (p=0.0008) than those with more focal proliferation (n=14). Conclusion: In most patients with PMP the appendix is affected; in females the ovaries are usually also involved. Focal proliferation appears to be a prognostic factor.