What are the most frequent causes of peritoneal cancer?
In colon cancer (cancer of the large bowel), peritoneal cancer will develop in about 15% of the patients. Patients with peritoneal implants often have seeding in the liver or lungs. In 3% of all patients however, seeding is limited to the peritoneum. It is for this subgroup of patients that a HIPEC may be an option (see below). In ovarian cancer (cancer of the ovaries), peritoneal cancer will develop in about 75% of the patients. In 50% of all patients, seeding is limited to the peritoneum. It is also for this subgroup of patients that a HIPEC may be an option (see below). A pseudomyxoma is a rare form of peritoneal cancer. At its origin is a rather benign small tumor at the base of the appendix which blocks the passage. Jelly accumulates in the appendix which eventually bursts, releasing jelly and tumor cells in the abdominal cavity. These tumor cells continue to produce jelly, which results in a swollen abdomen and sticking together of parts of the small bowel with obstruction (see b
