Pseudomyxoma Peritonei: A Case Report of a 62-Year-Old Female With Unexplained Abdominal Enlargement and Appendiceal Origin

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is any mucin-producing tumor in the abdomen. If left untreated, it can compress vital abdominal organs. We describe a misleading presentation of disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis (DPAM) of appendiceal origin. Treatment strategies for PMP vary from watchful waiting to cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) or early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC). The rarity of PMP has precluded any randomized studies, and few institutions see sufficient cases to report a series. The purpose of this case report is to contribute to reaching a common consensus on the guidelines of pseudomyxoma peritonei. Recent studies support that cytoreduction followed by HIPEC improves survival in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin. Our case report introduced a patient with low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm with visceral peritoneal penetration who underwent surgical debulking with promising results that supports the practice. Our patient has also responded well to adjuvant systemic chemotherapy without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.