Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Systematic Review of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Protocol Outcomes

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) prognosis was improved by the locoregional treatment combining cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). HIPEC is a multiparametric treatment with multiple protocols proposed and reviewed in this work. A systematic review of medical literature was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The search strategy used "malignant peritoneal mesothelioma" and "HIPEC" as keywords in three databases. Studies were included if reporting precisely the HIPEC regimen and the related outcomes, if comparing regimen, or if reporting national/international guidelines. The GRADE methodology was used to rate the level of evidence. Twenty-eight studies were included in this review: 1 was a meta-analysis, 18 reported cohort outcomes, 4 retrospectively compared HIPEC regimens, and 5 were guidelines. Six HIPEC regimens were found, 4 with one drug (cisplatin, mitomycine-C, carboplatin, oxaliplatin), 2 using two drugs (cisplatin-doxorubicin or cisplatin-mitomycine-C). Cisplatin, up to 250 mg/m2 over 90 min, appeared as the key HIPEC drug with a toxicity profile well controlled by the concomitant intravenous perfusion of sodium thiosulfate. Comparative studies tended to show that a bi-drug regimen led to better long-term oncologic outcomes, with cisplatin 50 mg/m2 plus doxorubicin 15 mg/m2 being safe and more efficient. This late protocol was the most widely used and recommended in 3 out of 4 international guidelines. Cisplatin was the preferred drug for HIPEC in DMPM patients. Most of the time, it was combined with doxorubicin for 90 min. A harmonization of protocols and further comparative studies are needed to optimize HIPEC regimen choice.

A Case of Peritoneal Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma with Absence of Occupationl Exposure to Asbestos

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is not very common, mesothelioma is directly attributable to occupational asbestos exposure, with 90% of cases showing a history of exposure. A 66-year-old male was admitted with an abdominal pain that persisted for 3 weeks. He had no abdominal mass. Computed tomography showed soft tissue thickening in perihepatic space and nodularities in omentum and peritoneum with ascites. There was no absolute diagnosis evidence in ascites analysis. Although the pathology of ascites was free for malignancy, the patient underwent omentum biopsy for definitive diagnosis. In laproscopic exploration, there was omental cake, peritoneal nodular seeding. It was suspected cancer carcinomatosis. Immunohistochemical findings suggested that it was sarcomatoid masothelioma. This is the rare case of a peritoneal sarcomatoid mesothelioma, without any exposure to asbestos.

Comparison of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy with Mitomycin or Carboplatin for Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive disease. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have improved outcomes where systemic chemotherapy has not succeeded. In this study, we compare outcomes of patients treated with mitomycin or carboplatin as perfusate. In this retrospective study, 47 procedures (CRS + HIPEC) were conducted on 44 patients between March 2003 and August 2010 with either mitomycin or carboplatin. χ2 and Student's t test were used for comparison of clinicopathological variables and Kaplan-Meier curves and log rank test were used to compare overall survival. Median survival of the mitomycin group was 18 months with 1- and 5-year survivals of 72.3 and 27.3 per cent, respectively. Median survival of the carboplatin group was not reached and 1- and 5-year survivals were 89.7 and 62.5 per cent, respectively ( P = 0.014). Mean hospital and intensive care unit length of stay was 18.9 and 8.7 days in the mitomycin group and 12.5 and 2.3 days in the carboplatin group ( P = 0.0069). Mean number of packed red blood cell units transfused was higher in the mitomycin group compared with the carboplatin group (3.54 vs 0.83, P < 0.05). There was no postoperative mortality. HIPEC with carboplatin in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is associated with improved overall survival and shorter hospital stay compared with HIPEC with mitomycin.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting as recurrent adhesion obstruction in general surgery: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a well-described entity in many reports in the literature in which it has been associated with asbestosis. However, there is no information describing the gross appearance and cardinal features seen during laparotomy, hence it is easy for the unwary surgeon to miss the diagnosis of this rare condition.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 49-year-old man of African descent presented to our hospital with a three-month history of weight loss, anorexia, abdominal distension, and general signs of cachexia and ascites on second presentation. At first presentation one year prior to this, he had undergone a laparotomy at our institution by a different team for intestinal obstruction secondary to adhesions with no biopsy taken. The patient's condition subsequently progressively deteriorated, and investigations including upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies and computed tomography of the abdomen were inconclusive, except for some free fluid in the peritoneal cavity and diffuse, mild thickening of the gut wall and mesentery. A second-look exploratory laparotomy revealed widespread nodular thickening of the visceral peritoneum with a striking, uniformly diffuse, erythematous, and velvety appearance. The peritoneal biopsy histology showed that the patient had malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died eight weeks after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Our report aims to increase the diagnosing clinician's awareness of the cardinal features of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma and thus reduce diagnostic errors and delays in treatment.

Cytomorphologic features of primary peritoneal mesothelioma in effusion, washing, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens: examination of 49 cases at one institution, including post-intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy findings

Primary peritoneal mesotheliomas (PPMs) are rare tumors of adults. At our institution, PPMs are treated with a combination of cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) in appropriate patients. We present a summary of cytologic features of PPM in 49 positive (malignant) specimens during a 15-year period at 1 institution. Of the corresponding 49 PPM histologic specimens, 46 were epithelial, 2 sarcomatoid, and 1 multicystic mesothelioma. This includes our experience with washing specimens obtained from patients with PPM following treatment with cytoreductive surgery combined with IPHC. The rarity of PPM makes this neoplasm unfamiliar to most pathologists. However, cytologic features can be diagnostic in a majority of cases. We present a summary of cytologic features that, in our experience, we find to be most useful in making or excluding a diagnosis of PPM. To our knowledge, this is the first large series reporting the cytomorphologic features of PPM in peritoneal effusions, pelvic washing specimens, and infradiaphragmatic fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens.

Divided dose of cisplatin combined with gemcitabine in malignant mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but notoriously chemoresistant tumor. An impressive activity of gemcitabine and cisplatin combination in malignant mesothelioma has been shown. However, the hematological toxicity and nephrotoxicity related to this regimen affect the patient's life negatively. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of divided dose of cisplatin combined with gemcitabine in chemo-naïve patients with malignant mesothelioma. Twenty-six eligible patients with malignant mesothelioma were enrolled onto the study. Cisplatin 35 mg/m(2) and gemcitabine 800 mg/m(2) were administered on days 1 and 8 as intravenous infusion in a 3-week cycle, up to maximum 6 cycles. Response and toxicity evaluations were performed in 26 patients. Male-female ratio was 11/15 with a mean age of 50.5 years (37-70). Locations of tumor were pleura in 16 patients, and peritoneum in 10 patients. All patients had epitheloid subtype of malignant mesothelioma. The partial response and stable disease were observed in 6 patients (23.1%) and in 13 patients (50%), respectively, with an overall tumor control rate of 73.1%. Seven patients (26.9%) had progressive disease. Median time to disease progression and survival were 4 and 19.5 months, respectively. Grade 3 nausea and vomiting were observed in one patient (3.8%), grade 4 neutropenia developed in one patient (3.8%) and grades 3-4 thrombocytopenia and nephrotoxicity did not develop. There was no treatment related death. Divided dose of cisplatin combined with gemcitabine, at the current dosage and schedule, appears to be an active regimen in chemotherapy-naïve patients with malignant mesothelioma, and well-tolerated.

MRI of the peritoneum: spectrum of abnormalities

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to detail peritoneal anatomy, techniques for optimizing peritoneal MRI, and the MRI characteristics of several disease processes that frequently involve the peritoneum.

CONCLUSION

Homogeneous fat suppression and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging, including delayed imaging, are critical technical factors for successful lesion detection and characterization on peritoneal MRI.

Diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum and pleura, analysis of markers

Diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum is a rare diagnosis. Despite many histopathologic similarities between peritoneal and pleural tumors, clinical and prognostic features may be quite different. There is a paucity of data evaluating molecular features of peritoneal mesotheliomas. Therefore, we compared the results of a battery of immunohistochemical markers, some with therapeutic implications, in patients with primary peritoneal or pleural mesotheliomas. We examined 24 peritoneal and nine pleural malignant mesotheliomas with a battery of immunohistochemical markers (cytokeratin AE1/3, calretinin, c-kit/CD117, desmin, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), MIB-1, and cleaved caspase-3) in an attempt to distinguish any differences in this tumor arising in these two distinct locations. The results indicate that the only marker to show a significant difference in its staining pattern between these two sites was EGFR (P=0.0004). In all, 92% (22/24) of peritoneal tumors demonstrated 3+ or 4+ immunoreactivity with EGFR, opposed to only 33% (3/9) pleural tumors. There was no significant difference in immunoreactivity between the pleural and peritoneal tumors with c-kit, ER, PR, cleaved caspase 3, calretinin, and desmin. There was a trend toward increased cytokeratin (P=0.07) and MIB-1 (P=0.08) expression in the peritoneal group. There was no significant difference in age, sex, or histologic subtype between the two locations. In conclusion, despite similarities between peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma, there are differences between this neoplasm arising in these two sites. The EGFR expression is more pronounced in peritoneal tumors compared to pleural tumors. The increased expression of EGFR in the peritoneal lesions may be of clinical significance with the recent emergence of epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapies.