Clinical experience of pseudomyxoma peritonei in Taiwan with emphasis on the treatment and survival.
OBJECTIVE
Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare neoplasm with intra-abdominal gelatinous, jelly-like fluid accumulation. To assess the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and predictors of survival of pseudomyxoma peritonei in Chinese patients, we conducted this study.


METHODS
Over a 27-year period, 15 patients with the diagnosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei were enrolled. Their demographic, clinical, treatment and survival data were collected.


RESULTS
Seven patients were female and eight were male. The median age at diagnosis was 48 years old for 7 females and 66 years old for 8 males. Exploratory laparotomy and debulking surgery were performed for 11 patients (73%); 6 of these 11 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Among 4 patients without surgical treatment, 1 received chemotherapy and 3 had supportive treatment only. The 5-year survival for all patients and patients with surgical treatment were 39% and 62%, respectively. Patients with surgical intervention had longer survival (median, 125 months) than those without surgical treatment (median, 8 months) (P = 0.0106). However, adjuvant chemotherapy did not further prolong the survival time (P = 0.744).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical intervention rather than adjuvant chemotherapy appears to provide a longer survival for patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Huang
Hui-Chun
HC
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No-201, Sec 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan 11217. yshuang@vghtpe.gov.tw
Huang
Yi-Shin
YS
Shyr
Yi-Ming
YM
Yen
Sang-Hue
SH
Chang
Full-Young
FY
Lee
Shou-Dong
SD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D011553:Pseudomyxoma Peritonei / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan