Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Symptoms
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
BB from the USA asks:
“I had a clear colonoscopy, yet I have Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.
Why wasn’t PMP detected during my colonoscopy?”
GG responds:
“Nearly all of us “Pals” (including Stage IV) patients have "clean" or "clear" colonoscopies because Pseudomyxoma Peritonei rarely penetrates the colon.
“PMP” can "surround" the colon and obstruct the colon, but those conditions occur from outside the colon, thus are not necessarily visible/detectable via a colonoscopy.
Many of our newly diagnosed Pals exclaim "how can I have cancer when I had a "clear" colonoscopy?"
While the colonoscopy detects polyps, inflammation, diverticulitis, etc, it generally does not detect appendiceal cancer or Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.”
Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Symptoms
What are the symptoms of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei?
Why are Pseudomyxoma Peritonei symptoms so vague?
What are the symptoms of "PMP?"
Pseudomyxoma Peritonei syndrome symptoms may include:
pain in the lower right quadrant,
a feeling of "bloating",
abdominal distension,
digestive disturbances, excessive flatulence
loss of appetite, inability to eat a complete meal,
constipation and/or diarrhea, shortness of breath,
appendicitis,
ascites*,
the "appearance" of a "hernia",
ovarian tumors,
infertility
or other vague or acute symptoms.
Appendicitis symptoms may include:
inflammation,
abdominal pain,
swelling,
vomiting, nausea,
appetite suppression,
constipation or diarrhea,
and fever.
Pseudomyxoma Peritonei symptoms may appear to be subtle, and therefore, may initially be overlooked or misdiagnosed. It's important for patients, and especially for healthcare providers, to have awareness of these symptoms.
Due to an often common physical symptom of what is described as "expanding girth", male patients may intially be mis diagnosed with hernias while female patients may be misdiagnosed as having ovarian cancer.
Pseudomyxoma peritonei syndrome generally progresses slowly over a period of years, producing extensive mucus accumulation within the abdomen, throughout the peritoneal cavity.
Due to the slow progression of this syndrome, the symptoms may be overlooked or mistaken for milder conditions, ie, indigestion or "middle age" weight gain.
The symptom of ascites refers to the accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity and may occur for a variety of conditions including post operative inflammation or to cancer. For Appendix Cancer and Psuedomyxoma Peritonei patients, ascites may appear as a rapid increase in fluid within in abdomen. This condition requires immediate medical attention.
On average, the peritioneal cavity of a healthy adult includes approximately 100 ml. of pale colored, clear fluid. This fluid includes water, proteins, electrolytes and a variety of cell types. The cell types vary according to different pathological conditions. Lymphocytes in the fluid provide cellular, humoral, immunological defense mechanisms. The quantities and features of this fluid may change due to a variety of pathological conditions.
Generally, Pseudomyxoma Peritonei grows at a slower rate than do other malignancies, however the rate at which this disease develops and grows varies with each patient and with their pathology.
The abdomen becomes swollen, or distended, as the mucinous tumor cells increase. Gastrointestinal digestive function becomes seriously impaired and can lead to obstruction.
See Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Treatment
Updated 10.20.11