Study Shows Minimally Invasive Surgery May Work for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

A study published in the journal Surgical Endoscopy has introduced the idea that some patients diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma may be able to avoid aggressive major surgery, opting instead for a minimally invasive procedure that involves a much smaller incision and much faster recovery times.

The mesothelioma study found that when patients are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma whose tumors are still small, and have only spread to the peritoneal membrane, it may not be necessary for them to undergo the currently-applied protocol of HIPEC, which is cytoreductive surgery followed by heated involving a large abdominal incision. Instead, the international team found that when patients are in good health and their tumors have not spread too far, they may not need to go through the traumatic procedure, which has proven successful but which involves a great deal of pain and risk.

The mesothelioma surgeons, working out of the University Hospital Reina Sofia in Cordoba Spain selected patients diagnosed with abdominal cancers, including those who had been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. Where these patients would normally have been subjected to surgery involved a long abdominal incision, their procedures were done using small incisions and cameras, as have been introduced in numerous medical procedures in recent years. They found that the procedure was so successful that only 15 out of 90 peritoneal cancer patients treated using the less invasive protocol had their cancer return after two and half years, and only five had developed new tumors in the region. This is a remarkable improvement, especially considering that the procedure provided the patients with a much improved experience.

According to the study’s authors, “Analysis of these data suggests that minimally invasive approach for peritonectomy procedures and HIPEC is feasible, safe and should be considered as part of the armamentarium for highly selected patients with peritoneal surface malignancies.”

Advances like these are being made in the treatment of mesothelioma every day. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with this rare and fatal form of cancer and you would like information on  resources that might be able to help you, 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