title: Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting as intestinal obstruction.
abstract: Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) represents 90% of all peritoneal forms of mesothelioma. It affects mainly patients 50-69 years old. In 50% of cases there is a history of asbestos exposure. The clinical presentation of the disease is not characteristic: nonspecific abdominal pain, weight loss, and abdominal distension are common. Ascites occurs in 90% of the patients. Bowel obstruction is a late manifestation. We present three patients with DMPM, without a history of asbestos exposure and without ascites, who presented with complete bowel obstruction. All patients underwent emergency operations, and palliative surgical procedures were performed. Each patient died within 3 to 6 months postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Medical School, LAIKO Hospital, Athens, Greece. johngriniatsos@yahoo.com
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griniatsos
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sougioultzis
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dimitriou
authors.forename: Vassilia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vamvakopoulou
authors.forename: Paris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alexandrou
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kyriakou
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzioufas
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papalambros
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzivras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery