Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

Am J Med Sci. 2023 Jan;365(1):99-103. doi: 10.1016/j.amjms.2022.07.008. Epub 2022 Aug 6.

Abstract

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, life-threatening malignant tumor. We present a report of a rare case of a 67-year-old male patient with MPM and severe abdominal pain, bloating, and bloody ascites as manifestations. The diagnosis was confirmed by cytology of ascites aspiration fluid and further verified by laparoscopic exploratory biopsy. The characteristics of signs and clinical manifestations in this case are less common. As everyone knows, asbestos exposure is usually associated with pleural mesothelioma, but only 6%-10% of malignant mesothelioma cases originate from the peritoneum, which is far less than pleural mesothelioma. Generally, its non-specificity provides a huge challenge to medical professionals in its diagnosis, and this is also the main reason for delayed diagnosis. Patients should be vigilant, even though no clear risk factor is observed.

Keywords: Asbestos; Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma; Pleural mesothelioma; Risk factors; Tumor cytoreductive surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Asbestos* / toxicity
  • Ascites / diagnostic imaging
  • Ascites / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mesothelioma* / diagnosis
  • Mesothelioma* / etiology
  • Mesothelioma* / pathology
  • Mesothelioma, Malignant* / complications
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Pleural Neoplasms* / diagnosis

Substances

  • Asbestos