Low-dose Pressurized Intrathoracic Aerosol Chemotherapy (PITAC) as an Alternative Therapy for Pleuropulmonary Involvement in Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease characterized by mucinous ascites and widespread peritoneal implants. It usually originates from the rupture of an adenoma/adenocarcinoma of the appendix. Although this tumor is only superficially invasive and does not metastasize, it could be a fatal disease. Extra-abdominal spread of PMP is an unusual occurrence with few reports in medical literature.

CASE REPORT: A 50-year-old man was diagnosed with PMP according to the findings of thorax and abdomen CT scan and cytologic and histological examinations. The radiological exam showed irregular thickening on the surface of left diaphragmatic and parietal pleura.

RESULTS: First, cytoreductive surgery associated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the abdominal disease was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of low grade PMP. The radiological evaluation performed 5 months later showed a dimensional increase in pleural nodules. The treatment consisted of an extensive intrathoracic cytoreductive surgery in combination with pressurized intra-thoracic aerosol chemotherapy (PITAC). Postoperative course was uneventful.

CONCLUSION: PMP with pleural extension is a rare phenomenon and carries an unfavourable prognosis. Due to the rarity of this presentation, its correct treatment is still unclear. We present a therapeutic approach to be applied in selected patients.