Pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from appendix tumors / Pseudomixoma peritoneal com origem em tumores do apêndice

ABSTRACT Background: Appendix tumors represent about 1% of all gastrointestinal neoplasia, in other words they are quite rare. However, there is a specific type of appendiceal neoplasms (mucinous adenocarcinoma) that spreads to the peritoneum and in almost 20% of the cases, resulting in a disease called pseudomyxoma peritonei. Although, it is a very rare condition, it is nonetheless a very severe one and therefore it is crucial to know how to correctly diagnose and treat it. Objective: This study provides updated data on how to diagnose, classify and treat pseudomyxoma peritonei that originates from appendix tumors. Methods: A bibliographic research was performed on PubMed database, including articles published since 2000, as well as, cross-referencing with the initial research. Discussion: In the past, patients diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei would only undergo palliative measures, so their overall survival rate was greatly reduced. Over the years pseudomyxoma peritonei treatment has evolved and patients are now undergoing treatment which is a combination of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This new therapy has allowed an increase of survival chances of up to 5 years in those patients with values between 53% and 88%, depending on the type of tumor. Conclusion: Despite the great progress we have witnessed in recent years, which have led to a large increase in survival rates, more research needs to be done, on what to do when the disease is in an unresectable stage. Finding a less aggressive therapy than cytoreductive surgery + hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy will be an important step forward.

RESUMO Introdução: As neoplasias do apêndice são bastante raras, representando atualmente cerca de 1% de todas as neoplasias gastrointestinais. O adenocarcinoma mucinoso é um dos subtipos de neoplasia do apêndice e caracteriza-se por metastizar para o peritoneu, em 20% dos casos, facto que se manifesta sob a forma de uma doença designada por Pseudomixoma Peritoneal. Apesar de ser uma condição muito rara, a sua extrema gravidade justifica a importância de a saber diagnosticar e tratar corretamente. Métodos: Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica na base de dados PubMed, incluindo artigos publicados desde 2000 bem como artigos de pesquisa cruzada com os iniciais. Discussão: No passado, os doentes diagnosticados com Pseudomixoma Peritoneal eram apenas submetidos a medidas paliativas, pelo que a sua sobrevida era muito reduzida. Ao longo dos anos o tratamento do Pseudomixoma Peritoneal foi evoluindo sendo agora os doentes submetidos a uma combinação de cirurgia citoredutiva e quimioterapia hipertérmica intraperitoneal. Esta nova terapêutica tem permitido aumentar a sobrevida aos 5 anos destes pacientes para valores entre os 53% e os 88%, dependendo do tipo de tumor. Conclusões: Apesar dos grandes avanços que se têm verificado, e que culminaram com um grande aumento das taxas de sobrevivência, devem ser feitos mais estudos que encontrem novas abordagens para quando o tumor já é diagnosticado num estado irressecável, bem como terapêuticas menos invasivas.

Mujer joven con hepatocarcinoma fibrolamelar metastásico; citorreducción y HIPEC: a propósito de un caso / Young woman with metastatic fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma; cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC: a case report

Objetivo: Reportar un caso clínico de hepatocarcinoma fibrolamelar metastásico y su manejo multidisciplinario. Caso clínico: Paciente de 24 años de edad con dolor abdominal, distensión abdominal y fiebre. Se le realizó tomografía computarizada de abdomen donde se encontró tumoración hepática irregular. Se realizó laparotomía con evidencia de múltiples implantes en cavidad abdominal y se diagnosticó mediante estudio histopatológico hepatocarcinoma fibrolamelar metastásico. Se decidió realizar citorreducción más quimioterapia hipertérmica intraperitoneal (HIPEC). La sobrevida de la paciente fue de 11 meses. Discusión: El hepatocarcinoma fibrolamelar es un tumor raro. Aún no hay consenso sobre el mejor tratamiento en pacientes con metástasis que tengan buena funcionalidad. El manejo actual se basa en la quimioterapia sistémica y la resección quirúrgica en casos localizados. En el caso de nuestra paciente, la cirugía citorreductora más HIPEC se realizó con la intención de mejorar la supervivencia. Se necesita más evidencia para definir esta estrategia como tratamiento estándar.

Aim: To report a clinical case of metastatic fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma and its multidisciplinary management. Case report: 24 year-old patient with abdominal pain, bloating and fever. A computed tomography of the abdomen was performed; an irregular hepatic tumor was found. A laparotomy was performed with evidence of multiple implants in the abdominal cavity and the histopathology report was metastatic fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma. It was decided to perform cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC. The patient's survival was 11 months. Discussion: Fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma is a rare tumor. There is still no consensus on the treatment of choice in patients with metastases with good functionality status. Current management is based on systemic chemotherapy and surgical resection in localized cases. In the case of our patient, cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC was performed with the intention of improving survival. More evidence is needed to define this strategy as standard treatment.