Open AccessAdvances in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma
Author(s) -
Tristan D. Yan,
Raffit Hassan,
Laura S. Welch,
Paul H. Sugarbaker
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
oncology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.637
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1970-5565
pISSN - 1970-5557
DOI - 10.4081/oncol.2007.140
Subject(s) - medicine , mesothelioma , peritoneal mesothelioma , asbestos , malignant disease , perioperative , incidence (geometry) , disease , chemotherapy , abdominal distension , surgery , oncology , pathology , cancer , materials science , physics , optics , metallurgy
Malignant mesothelioma is a highly aggressive neoplasm. The incidence of malignant mesothelioma is increasing worldwide. Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) represents one-fourth of all mesotheliomas. Association of asbestos exposure with DMPM has been observed, especially in males. A great majority of patients present with abdominal pain and distension, caused by accumulation of tumors and ascitic fluid. In the past, DMPM was considered a pre-terminal condition; therefore attracted little attention. Patients invariably died from their disease within a year. Recently, several prospective trials have demonstrated median survival of 40 to 90 months and 5-year survival of 30% to 60% after the combined treatment using cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This improvement in survival has prompted new searches into the medical science related to DMPM, a disease previously ignored as uninteresting. This review article focuses on the key advances in the epidemiology, diagnosis, staging, treatments and prognosis of DMPM that have occurred in the past decade.