Organ Resection Deemed Safe for Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients 

Peritoneal mesothelioma patients who undergo CRS/HIPEC, a procedure that combines surgery with bathing the surgical site with a heated chemotherapy solution, tend to respond well and experience better overall survival. But there have been questions about whether patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy benefit or suffer when their surgery is more extensive and includes removal of other major organs affected by the cancer. A recent study has determined that organ resection does not have a negative impact on survival and may even extend it.

CRS/HIPEC is Gold Standard for Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment

The CRS/HIPEC treatment has proven to be extremely effective in treating malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, the form of the disease that occurs in the abdomen. But surgeons have been concerned that when organs beyond the peritoneal lining are also involved and removed, patient outcomes might be negatively impacted. Involved organs might include the pancreas, spleen, small bowel, colon, part of the diaphragm, stomach, rectum, kidney, ureter, bladder, and/or uterus.

Researchers from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa recently conducted a study involving 174 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, roughly half of whom had no additional organs removed. One group had only one additional organ removed, and the rest had more than one additional organ removed. Following the removal of the mesothelioma tumors all were treated with heated chemotherapy drugs prior to their incision being closed.  Survival of all three groups was then compared.

No Significant Survival Difference Among Study’s Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients 

In their analysis the researchers found that the peritoneal mesothelioma patients who had no additional organs removed had slightly shorter hospital stays, but that a higher rate of major organ resection had no impact on survival. According to study author David Roife, “Major organ resection was not associated with an increase in major complications or worse overall survival in patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.” The group concluded that removing more impacted organs might actually reduce the chance that more tumors would arise in the future, and that organ resection “should be considered, if necessary, to achieve complete cytoreduction for MPM patients.”

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, it’s important that you understand all of your options. For assistance, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri