Abstract

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an uncommon clinical entity. It is characterized by massive abdominal distension by gelatinous material. It is produced by mucous-secreting peritoneal implants which are secondary, usually, to an ovarian or appendiceal neoplasm. Although remaining localized to the peritoneal cavity and hence thought to be a benign process, the clinical course of the disease, the association, in the majority of cases, with a malignant primary tumor, and the report of a small number of cases with extraperitoneal spread lends support to the belief that this is a malignant disease. Five-year survival is 68% with ten-year survival at 52%. Despite the utilization of numerous adjuvant therapies, the mainstay of treatment remains complete surgical debulking at initial presentation followed by palliative debulking for symptomatic relief.