Cystic peritoneal mesothelioma: report of a case

Our plain-English summary of Cystic peritoneal mesothelioma: report of a case, by A. Cavallaro, M. Berretta, E. Lo Menzo, et al (Surgery Today, 2011).

The study

• Authors: A. Cavallaro, M. Berretta, E. Lo Menzo, V. Cavallaro, A. Zanghì, M. Di Vita, A. Cappellani
• Journal: Surgery Today
• Published: 2011;41(1):141-6
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 13 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (BMPM) is a rare disease with good short-term prognosis and rare malignant transformation. However, its biological significance remains unexplained. A neoplastic origin is considered by many authors to require a surgical excision, based on the high recurrence and progressive growth rate of the tumors. However, alternative or integrative treatment options have also been proposed. A 45-year-old woman presented to our unit with a history of occasional discomfort and pain in the left hip. On physical examination, we noticed a tough-elastic, fixed mass located in the iliac fossa. Computed tomography scan detected a mass with multiseptated cystic-like areas. Due to the similarity of these findings to a primitive sarcomatous tumor of the retroperitoneum, an arteriographic study was also performed. The patient underwent en bloc resection of the mass, including a segment of the sigmoid colon. The final pathologic diagnosis was cystic mesothelioma. Further studies are needed to better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of this rare disease, and to define a more tailored treatment plan.

In plain English

This article was a case report from the University of Catania, Italy, describing one patient with benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare cyst-forming growth of the abdominal lining. A 45-year-old woman with occasional discomfort and pain in the lower left abdomen was admitted in April 2007. A CT scan showed a 6 cm multicystic mass. Blood tumor markers were normal except CA 125, which was 57 U/ml. Because the mass looked like a retroperitoneal sarcoma, an arteriogram was done, and it showed a rich blood supply. Surgeons removed the mass in one piece together with 13 cm of sigmoid colon. Tissue analysis was consistent with cystic mesothelioma, and the colon wall was not involved. She had no complications and went home on day 5. No recurrence was seen at 24 or 30 months. The article did not report any asbestos exposure for this patient. Its introduction stated that, unlike malignant mesothelioma, this lesion is not associated with asbestos exposure. The authors concluded that the disease is rare and benign but has a potential for recurrence and malignant transformation.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Case report (one patient)
• Who was studied: One 45-year-old woman admitted to the Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Catania, Italy, in April 2007
• Exposure: No asbestos or other exposure history was reported for this patient. As general background, the article's introduction states that this lesion, unlike malignant mesothelioma, is not associated with asbestos exposure; this was not a finding of this case.
• Main results:
  • CT scan of the patient showed a multicystic ovoid mass 6 cm in size
  • Tumor markers were within normal limits except serum CA 125, which was 57 U/ml
  • An arteriogram showed the mass had a rich blood supply from several arteries
  • The mass was removed in one piece with the surrounding peritoneum and 13 cm of sigmoid colon
  • Histological analysis was consistent with cystic mesothelioma, and the wall of the sigmoid colon was not involved
  • The specimen showed no estrogen or progesterone receptor expression
  • The patient had no complications and was discharged on postoperative day 5
  • No CT evidence of recurrence at the 24-month follow-up
  • No clinical or ultrasound evidence of recurrence at the 30-month follow-up
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare benign disease with a potential for recurrence and malignant transformation, and that further studies are needed on its causes and treatment.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Peritoneal Mesothelioma, Prognosis, Malignant Transformation, Retroperitoneum, Mesothelioma, Etiology.

Related studies

• Peritoneal benign cystic mesothelioma: a case report and review of the literature — S. van Ruth, M.W. Bronkhorst, et al. (2002)
• Giant benign cystic peritoneal mesothelioma: US, CT, and MRI findings — A. Ozgen, D. Akata, et al. (1998)
• Cystic peritoneal mesothelioma: report of a case — G. De Toma, V. Nicolanti, et al. (2000)
• van Ruth S, Bronkhorst MWGA, van Coeverden F, Zoetmulder FAN. Peritoneal benign cystic mesothelioma: a case report and review of literature. Eur J Surg Oncol 2002; 28(2): 192-5 — K. Sethna, F. Mohamed, et al. (2002)
• Pediatric Benign Cystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma — J. Durell, H. Dagash, et al. (2016)
• Peritoneal cystic mesothelioma treated with minimally invasive approach — G. Navarra, S. Occhionorelli, et al. (1996)

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