Pseudomyxoma peritonei: review on a cluster of peritoneal mucinous diseases.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an uncommon condition characterized by abundant extracellular mucinous material and peritoneal tumoural implants. A ruptured appendiceal mucinous adenoma seems to be the most common origin, but low grade ovarian malignancies are often associated. Peritoneal gelatinous diseases must be subdivided into disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis, peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis and intermediate cases. These entities have significantly different prognosis. Debulking surgery is the most common treatment but some are in favour of an ultra radical surgery with hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy, with some encouraging results.