[Elective surgery in recurrent colon cancer with peritoneal seeding: when to and when not to proceed].

Peritoneal carcinomatosis occurs in about 10% of patients with colon cancer. Patients with progressive disease develop complications, with a median survival of 9 months. Our goal is to present a new quantitative scoring system by which to evaluate patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. The Peritoneal Cancer Index and Completeness of Cytoreduction Score represent quantitative and prognostic indicators that permit the creation of a clinical pathway. Based on the scores, patients can undergo systemic chemotherapy, exploratory laparotomy or cytoreductive surgery. If there is a complete cytoreduction, perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy is given and these patients are considered potential long-term survivors.