eMedicine Specialties > Oncology > Carcinomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Peritoneal Cancer: Follow-up

Author: Wissam Bleibel, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Caritas Carney Hospital, Tufts University School of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Olga Kozyreva, MD, Fellow, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Tufts University School of Medicine; Sarah K May, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Caritas Carney Hospital, Commonwealth Hematology-Oncology PC; Daniel Efiom-Ekaha, MD, Fellow in Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of New York-Downstate; Arunbhai G Patel, MD, Chief, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Brooklyn Hospital Center; Adekunle Kuku, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Brooklyn Hospital Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 23, 2007

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Follow up to evaluate patients for complications of the cancer, spread of the cancer, and possible complications of therapy.
  • Screening is also essential to help rule out known associated cancers and cancer syndromes.

Prognosis

  • Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma generally have a better prognosis than those with pleural mesothelioma. Original reports suggest a median survival of less than 1 year from the time of diagnosis; however, multiple varied treatment approaches may prolong long-term survival.
  • For further information about survival of particular peritoneal malignancies, refer to Mortality/Morbidity.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to diagnose and appropriately treat cancers and precancerous lesions
  • Failure to monitor to detect cancer recurrence and complications
  • Failure to detect adverse effects and complications of therapy
  • The diagnosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma could be work-related, and a thorough discussion with the patient is warranted.
  • In case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, the legal implications are tremendous, primary prevention is important, and employers should limit the amount of asbestos exposure to the lowest levels possible. Having work standards in place is important.
 


More on Peritoneal Cancer

Overview: Peritoneal Cancer
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Peritoneal Cancer
Treatment & Medication: Peritoneal Cancer
Follow-up: Peritoneal Cancer
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

ovarian cancer, malignant mesothelioma, benign papillary mesothelioma, desmoplastic small round cell tumors, DSRCT, peritoneal angiosarcoma, leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata, LPD, peritoneal hemangiomatosis, primary peritoneal cancer, peritoneal malignancy, peritoneum, peritoneal carcinoma, peritoneal carcinoma, abdominal therapeutic radiation, radiation therapy, asbestos exposure, cystic mesothelioma, multilocular peritoneal inclusion cyst, primary peritoneal carcinoma, serous surface papillary carcinoma

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Wissam Bleibel, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Caritas Carney Hospital, Tufts University School of Medicine
Wissam Bleibel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Olga Kozyreva, MD, Fellow, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Tufts University School of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sarah K May, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Caritas Carney Hospital, Commonwealth Hematology-Oncology PC
Sarah K May, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Daniel Efiom-Ekaha, MD, Fellow in Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of New York-Downstate
Daniel Efiom-Ekaha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Arunbhai G Patel, MD, Chief, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Brooklyn Hospital Center
Arunbhai G Patel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Adekunle Kuku, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Brooklyn Hospital Center
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP, Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology and Oncology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Therapeutic Expertise, Oncology, at PRA International
Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, European Society for Medical Oncology, Massachusetts Medical Society, and Society for Biological Therapy
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Benjamin Movsas, MD, Vice-Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Benjamin Movsas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Radium Society, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, and American Society of Clinical Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP, Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems
Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jules E Harris, MD, Visiting Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine at Tucson; Consulting Staff, Arizona Cancer Center
Jules E Harris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Central Society for Clinical Research, Society for Biological Therapy, and Society for Leukocyte Biology
Disclosure: GlobeImmune Salary Consulting; Amplimed Consulting fee Consulting

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