Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in peritoneal carcinomatosis from breast cancer – literature minireview

Abstract

Peritoneal carcinomatosis with breast cancer origin is an uncommon situation, which usually develops late during the evolution of the disease. The development of such lesions is commonly associated with an aggressive histology (such as lobular carcinoma) and advanced stage at diagnostic and is usually associated with a poor outcome. The positive diagnostic of peritoneal carcinomatosis with breast cancer origin can be sustained only if a biopsy from the tumoral nodules demonstrates the mammary origin of the lesions. In order to improve the outcome of these patients cytoreductive surgery alone or in association with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been proposed. However, more studies are still needed in order to include the method as part of the therapeutic strategy of these patients.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• peritoneal carcinomatosis
• hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy