A Long-term Survival Case of Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treated with Paclitaxel

Kentaro Matsumoto, Toshihito Uehara, Keiji Hirata, Naoki Nagata and Koji Yamaguchi

Department of Surgery 1, University of Occupational and Environmental Health

A 34-year-old female woman with lower abdominal pain since early November 2002 was found in abdominal CT to have a well-circumscribed pelvic tumor measuring 10 cm in diameter. Under a diagnosis of intrapelvic tumor, we undertook surgical resection, finding a huge tumor of the sigmoid colon serosa, and the huge tumor was resected. Multiple disseminated small nodules were noted on the surface of the uterus, ovary, and Douglas cavity, yielding a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma (diffuse mixed type) based on postoperative pathological examination. Intravenous Paclitaxel was given weekly for 3 consecutive weeks followed by a 1-week rest (one course). After 5 courses, complete remission was observed. The patient remains without recurrence 5 years and 2 months after surgery.

Key words
mesothelioma, paclitaxel

Reprint requests
Kentaro Matsumoto Department of Surgery 1, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahata-nishi-ku, Kita-kyushu, 807-8555 JAPAN

Accepted
December 17, 2008

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