Editorial
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jan 15, 2010; 2(1): 9-11
Published online Jan 15, 2010. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v2.i1.9
New approach to peritoneal surface malignancies
Antonio Macrì
Antonio Macrì, Department of Human Pathology, General Surgery Unit, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Author contributions: Macrì A analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Antonio Macrì, MD, Professor, Department of Human Pathology, General Surgery Unit, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy. amacri@unime.it
Telephone: +39-90-2212678 Fax: +39-90-2212683
Received: January 7, 2010
Revised: January 8, 2010
Accepted: January 12, 2010
Published online: January 15, 2010
Abstract

Peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) are a clinical entity with an unfavourable prognosis. They comprise peritoneal carcinomatosis, pseudomyxoma peritonei, and primitive tumors of the peritoneum. Because the treatment of PSM presents unique and challenging problems to the cancer clinician, many new approaches have been attempted in recent years. In the current and next issues of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology, some international groups of researchers discuss the most important and innovative aspects of PSM treatment, with particular accuracy for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. In conclusion, because this new approach to PSM has a reputation for being based more on common sense than on experimental data, I hope that highlighting this topic can make a contribution to the treatment of this group of diseases.

Keywords: Peritoneal surface malignancy; Peritoneal carcinomatosis; Pseudomyxoma peritonei; Peritoneal mesothelioma; Gastric cancer; Colorectal cancer; Ovarian cancer; Cytoreductive surgery; Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy; HIPEC