Abstract
Objective. We made the clinical features of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma cases clear by compared with that of pleural mesothelioma cases. Subjects. From 1993 to March 2009, 12 patients of peritoneal mesothelioma and ninety-six patients of pleural mesothelioma from Okayama Rousai Hospital were enrolled. Results. There were more populations of female, epithelioid type and chemotherapy in peritoneal mesothelioma cases than in pleural mesothelioma cases. It was suggested that malignant peritoneal mesothelioma cases had been heavily exposed to asbestos because of their occupational history and complications of asbestosis and pleural plaque. Patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma exposed to asbestos in shorter periods and of heavier volume than pleural mesothelioma cases. On prognosis the median survival of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma cases and pleural mesothelioma cases were 12.0 months. The prognoses of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma cases appear to be as poor as that of pleural mesothelioma cases. Conclusion. There were more populations of female, epithelioid type in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma has a strong relationship with asbestos exposure. We must consider malignant peritoneal mesothelioma when detected asbestos exposure and ascites. The diffuse nature of mesothelioma makes it difficult for surgeons to perform radical resection. However, combined modality treatments have been attempted in order to reduce local recurrence and systemic spread.
