Aggressive surgical management of peritoneal carcinomatosis with low mortality in a high-volume tertiary cancer center

Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Mar;15(3):754-63. doi: 10.1245/s10434-007-9701-4. Epub 2007 Dec 12.

Abstract

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) traditionally involves high perioperative morbidity and mortality. We report our experience performing CS-HIPEC in a high-volume regional perfusion program designed to limit morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A total of 122 patients underwent 124 CS-HIPEC procedures. Common tumors treated with CS-HIPEC included appendiceal (38.5%), colorectal (24.6%), and ovarian cancers (13.1%), and peritoneal mesothelioma (12.3%). Complete cytoreduction was performed in all patients, with organ resections performed as necessary.

Results: R0 resection was achieved in 28.7% of cases, R1 in 54.9%, and R2 in 16.4%. Median operative time was 460 minutes (range, 250-840 minutes), and median blood loss was 1150 mL (range, 10-14,000 mL). Median hospital and intensive care unit stays were 12 days (range, 6-50 days) and 3 days (range, 0-41 days), respectively. Grade 3 or 4 morbidity by National Cancer Institute criteria (major morbidity) was seen in 29.8% of cases, with overall morbidity 56.5%. Independent prognostic variables for major morbidity included number of anastomoses and degree of cytoreduction. In-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 0% and 1.6%, respectively. The most favorable diagnosis was appendiceal cancer, for which 2-year survival was 66.7%, with lower-grade histologic subtypes of appendiceal cancer reaching 85.7% 2-year survival. Colorectal cancer had 2-year survival of 36.7%.

Conclusions: In a high-volume center with extensive experience treating peritoneal malignancies, perioperative mortality can be lowered to nearly zero, although morbidity remains high. CS-HIPEC procedures should be studied further in a controlled manner to help define their important role in the care of patients with PC.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cancer Care Facilities / statistics & numerical data
  • Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced
  • Infusions, Parenteral
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / surgery*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents