Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the natural course of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) in patients who are not fit to undergo cytoreductive (CRS) surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Methods: Over an 8-year period (2006-2013) 320 patients were excluded from CRS and HIPEC at our center. Exclusion criteria were: (a) age >75 years; (b) ASA score ≥ 3; (c) extraperitoneal disease; (d) massive disease involvement of the small bowel; (e) disease involvement of the hepatic pedicle or the pancreas; (f) invasion of retroperitoneal space; (g) more than two stenoses of the small bowel. Another 130 patients underwent CRS and HIPEC.
Results: In the HIPEC group (N=130), the mean overall survival was 26.2±11.7 months, while from the non- HIPEC group (N=320), 200 patients underwent palliative surgery, with a mean overall survival of 11.7±8.3 months. Only 120 patients received palliative chemotherapy with a mean overall survival of 7.2±4.3 months.
Conclusion: Our study suggests that, in patients unfit to undergo CRS & HIPEC, an exploratory laparotomy and palliative surgery should be performed, offering a survival benefit and improved quality of life.