Pseudomyxoma peritonei (patient information)

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare clinical syndrome which is characterized by the accumulation of mucins in the peritoneum causing an increase in abdominal girth “Jelly-belly”, compressing on other organs such as liver, colon, pancreas.

Symptoms of pseudomyxoma peritonei include:

• Increase in abdominal girth
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bloating

There are no established causes for pseudomyxoma peritonei, it is shown in studies that pseudomyxoma mostly arises from the tumor of the appendix, and less commonly from ovary and colon.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare disease with an incidence of 0.1 person per 100,000 people and slightly is seen more in female and the average age at diagnosis is 50 years old.

Patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei usually are asymptomatic at the beginning but any increase in abdominal girth, bloating, the sensation of fullness, abdominal pain warrants further evaluation and primary care visit is necessary.

Diagnosing patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei is complicated and it is based on clinical symptoms, imaging studies such as CT-scan findings and histology of primary tumor.

The mainstay of treatment for pseudomyxoma peritonei is surgery combined with chemotherapy, the prognosis is very well in most cases.

Directions to Hospitals Treating Pseudomyxoma peritonei

Majority of patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei experience good prognosis with exception of those having high-grade neoplasm.

Complications of pseudomyxoma pertonei may include:

• Small bowel obstruction
• Compression on liver, pancreas, ovary
• Post-operative complications such as adhesions.

https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/7488/pseudomyxoma-peritonei