Mid-Term Audit of a National Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program Implementation in a Low Middle Income Country: The Moroccan Experience

Ovarian Causes of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP)-A Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare, progressive, slowly growing, inadequately understood neoplasm with a 5-year progression-free survival rate of as low as 48%. It is characterized by varying degrees of malignancy and the production of mucinous and gelatinous structures. Typically, the development of pseudomyxoma peritonei is associated with the rupture of appendiceal mucinous tumors and other gastrointestinal or ovarian mucinous tumors. The goal of our literature review was to identify various aspects that characterize the ovarian causes of pseudomyxoma peritonei.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors performed an extensive literature search between 1 February 2024 and 2 March 2024 on the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Oxford Journals, and Reaxys, and the findings were summarized into seven main clinical and paraclinical situations.

RESULTS

According to our research, the main instances in which pseudomyxoma peritonei can be triggered by an ovarian cause are the following: (1) mucinous cystadenoma; (2) mucinous ovarian cancer; (3) colon cancer with ovarian metastasis; (4) malignant transformation of an ovarian primary mature cystic teratoma; (5) appendiceal mucocele with peritoneal dissemination mimicking an ovarian tumor with peritoneal carcinomatosis; (6) mucinous borderline tumor developing inside an ovarian teratoma; and (7) the association between a mucinous bilateral ovarian cancer and a colonic tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the ovarian causes of pseudomyxoma peritonei, including its epidemiology, imagery characteristics, symptoms, current treatment, and promising future therapies, in the hopes of finding feasible solutions, as a lack of understanding of this mucus-secreting malignant disease increases the risk of delayed diagnosis or uncontrolled deterioration.

Building an Efficient Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Program Despite the Lower-Middle-Income Barriers: Ukraine Experience

PURPOSE

Cytoreductive surgery/hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) programs are often limited to centers in developed countries because of extensive requirements. We aimed to analyze efficacy and challenges of CRS/HIPEC centers in lower-middle-income settings in the Ukraine example.

METHODS

A multicenter descriptive study was conducted using data sets (2008-2022) from Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa centers. Patients with appendiceal neoplasm (AN); colorectal cancer (CRC); malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM); and epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer (EOC) treated with CRS ± HIPEC were included. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed for N ≥ 20 cohorts using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

We included 596 patients. At Kyiv and Lviv centers, 37 and 28 patients with AN had completeness of cytoreduction (CC-0/1) rates of 84% and 71%, respectively. Thirty-day major morbidity stood at 24% and 18%, respectively. Median OS was not reached (NR) at both centers. Nineteen patients with CRC from Kyiv, 11 from Lviv, and 156 from Odesa had CC-0/1 rates of 84%, 91%, and 86%, respectively. Thirty-day major complications occurred in 16%, 18%, and 8%, respectively. Median OS in the Odesa cohort was 35 (95% CI, 32 to 38) months. Among 15 Kyiv, five Lviv, and six Odesa patients with MPM, CC-0/1 rates were 67%, 80%, and 100%, respectively, while major complications occurred in 13%, 0%, and 17%, respectively. OS was not analyzed because of small MPM cohorts. At Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa centers, 91, 40, and 89 patients, respectively, had primary EOC. CC-0/1 rates were 79%, 100%, and 80%, and 30-day major morbidity rates were 23%, 5%, and 6%, respectively. Median OS was NR, 71 (95% CI, 32 to 110), and 67 (95% CI, 61 to 73) months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

CRS/HIPEC programs in lower-middle-income environment can achieve safety and survival that meet global standards. Our discussion highlights common obstacles in such settings and proposes effective overcoming strategies.

Adoption of cytoreductive surgery in the management of peritoneal malignancies-Global trends

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) has now been accepted as an integral component in the management of gastrointestinal and gynecological cancers with peritoneal metastases. Since the adoption of CRS is influenced by access to advanced medical facilities, trained multidisciplinary teams, and funding, there is wide variability in incorporation of CRS into routine clinical practice between high- versus low- and middle-income countries. This review highlights the global trends in the adoption of CRS for peritoneal malignancies with a specific focus on the establishment of CRS programs and barriers to incorporate CRS into routine clinical care in low- and middle-income countries.

Beware of lethal Wernicke's encephalopathy after cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC for peritoneal pseudomyxoma: Case report of morbidity and mortality review

Background

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) arising from the appendix is a rare entity. Complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the only established curative treatment, and is reputedly linked to high morbidity and mortality.

We report, to our knowledge, the first case of delayed lethal Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) complicating CRS with HIPEC for an appendicular PMP. WE, caused by a thiamine deficiency, is characterized by ataxia, nystagmus and changes in consciousness.

Methods

A patient underwent complete CRS with HIPEC for a low grade mucinous appendicular tumor at the stage of PMP with a peritoneal index of 31, and was readmitted at POD 36 for persistent vomiting and vague neurological symptoms of mental confusion. The classic triad of WE appeared tardily. Although thiamine substitution was promptly applied, the patient died at POD53.

Conclusion

WE is an uncommon and severe neurological disorder with a mortality rate up to 20 % and only 16 % of treated patients can fully recover. This diagnosis should always be anticipated in patients undergoing major surgery such as CRS- HIPEC. Efficient treatment should be quickly introduced in order to avoid a lethal outcome.

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Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare entity, treatment consists of complete cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intra peritoneal chemotherapy with positive effects established in the literature.

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However, this combined treatment is a complex procedure and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

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Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a rare complication of this procedure and has been reported once in the literature.

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Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a diagnosis to keep in mind and anticipate in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intra peritoneal chemotherapy

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Cytoreductive Surgery in Ovarian Cancer: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses

Background

The utility of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has been assessed in several randomised clinical trials and meta-analyses, and it is still a subject of controversy. Therefore, we performed an umbrella review of existing meta-analyses to summarise the outcomes of HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) association in ovarian cancer.

Methods

We examined the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Prospero, Web of Science and Science Direct from inception to May 30, 2020, for meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. Analyses of overall survival, disease free survival and progression survival were performed separately for primary and recurrent ovarian cancers.

Results

We identified 6 meta-analyses investigating the association of HIPEC with CRS in the management of ovarian cancer. Three year overall survival was significantly improved by the association of CRS and HIPEC for primary (HR: 0.66, 95%CI:0.56-0.78) and recurrent ovarian cancers (HR:0.50, 95%CI:0.38-0.64). This benefit was also demonstrated on disease-free survival for primary (HR: 0.54, 95%CI:0.48-0.61) and recurrent ovarian cancer (HR: 0.60, 95%CI:0.46-0.78). The pooled hazard ratios confirmed the advantage of HIPEC and CRS association with respect to CRS alone on progression free survival for primary and recurrent ovarian cancer respectively with HR: 0.50, 95%CI: 0.43-0.58 and HR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.41-0.85.

Conclusion

While waiting for the results of the current prospective studies, the present umbrella study suggests that HIPEC performed at the end of CRS may be a complementary effective asset for ovarian cancer patient management.

Current Opinion and Practice on Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Management: The North African Perspective

Background

The status of peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM) management in North Africa is undetermined. The aim of this study was to assess and compare current practice and knowledge regarding PSM and examine satisfaction with available treatment options and need for alternative therapies in North Africa.

Methods

This is a qualitative study involving specialists participating in PSM management in North Africa. The survey analyzed demographic characteristics and current knowledge and opinions regarding PSM management in different institutions. We also looked at goals and priorities, satisfaction with treatment modalities and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) usefulness according to specialty, country, years of experience, and activity sector.

Results

One-hundred and three participants responded to the survey (response rate of 57%), including oncologists and surgeons. 59.2% of respondents had more than 10 years experience and 45.6% treated 20–50 PSM cases annually. Participants satisfaction with PSM treatment modalities was mild for gastric cancer (3/10 [IQR 2–3]) and moderate for colorectal (5/10 [IQR 3–5]), ovarian (5/10 [IQR 3–5]), and pseudomyxoma peritonei (5/10 [IQR 3–5]) type of malignancies. Good quality of life and symptom relief were rated as main priorities for treatment and the need for new treatment modalities was rated 9/10 [IQR 8–9]. The perceived usefulness of systemic chemotherapy in first intention was described as high by 42.7 and 39.8% of respondents for PSM of colorectal and gastric origins, while HIPEC was described as highly useful for ovarian (49.5%) and PMP (73.8) malignancies.

Conclusions

The management of PSM in the North African region has distinct differences in knowledge, treatments availability and priorities. Disparities are also noted according to specialty, country, years of expertise, and activity sector. The creation of referral structures and PSM networks could be a step forward to standardized PSM management in the region.