International Journal of Clinical & Medical Images

Clinical Image

Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) is an uncommon disease characterized by bulky accumulation of mucinous tumor deposits in the peritoneal cavity. It is a rare tumor with an incidence of one to two per million per year, affecting mostly middle-aged women of 53 years of age. Mucinous neoplasms of the appendix are the most common primary tumors associated with PMP. Its symptomatology is non-specific and may include an increase in abdominal size, inguinal hernia in men and ovarian massin women. Diagnosis is guided byCT scan, which allows the identification of loculated mucinous ascites (Figure 1), which accumulate along peritoneal surfaces producing a characteristic mass effect on the liver and spleen, producing a scalloped appearance, with multiple areas of peritoneal nodularity and thick omental caking. Curvilinear calcifications may be present and helps differentiate pseudomyxoma from peritoneal carcinomatosis. An appendiceal mucocele may be visualized. Treatment is based on cytoreduction surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Keywords: Pseudomyxoma peritonei; Scalloping; CT