Total pelvic exenterative surgery in patients with peritoneal metastases from appendiceal neoplasms. A case series of 2 patients

BACKGROUND: Surgery which includes peritonectomy, visceral resections, and perioperative chemotherapy has been used extensively to treat peritoneal metastases from appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma. The results of treatment vary with the grade of the neoplasm, the extent of abdominal and pelvic disease and the completeness of tumor removal. METHODS: The clinical features, surgical procedures and outcome of two patients with mucinous appendiceal neoplasms were reviewed. The decision to move to total pelvic exenterative surgery after prior treatment failure was critically evaluated. RESULTS: Patient 1 had three extensive surgical procedures prior to total pelvic exenteration and one surgical procedure after. Patient 2 had one 16-h surgical procedure prior to total pelvic exenteration. Patient 1 had 8 years and 1 month survival from onset of disease until death. Patient 2 is free of disease at 27 years from onset of pseudomyxoma peritonei. After recovery of the patients from the extensive surgery, their quality of life was acceptable. CONCLUSION: Total pelvic exenteration surgery is seldom used in patients with peritoneal metastases from appendiceal neoplasms. These two patients were studied in an attempt to determine the indications for this procedure with this disease.