Peritoneal carcinomatosis in lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
A survey was carried out of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) in lung cancer.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted of all lung cancer patients with malignant ascites diagnosed between 1990 and 2005 at a general hospital in Taiwan.


RESULTS
There were 30 lung cancer patients with documented PC. The most frequent abdominal symptom was abdominal distension. The most common histological type of lung cancer with PC was adenocarcinoma. Eighty per cent of the patients developed malignant pleural effusions before the diagnosis of PC. The median survival after diagnosis of PC was 15 days. Two adenocarcinoma patients with PC benefited from treatment with gefitinib.


CONCLUSIONS
Further study is warranted to investigate the use of gefitinib in treatment of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and PC.
Su
Hsuan-Tsung
HT
Chest Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsai
Chun-Ming
CM
Perng
Reury-Perng
RP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib