What Is the Prognosis for Peritoneal Mesothelioma?

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Overview

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. It accounts for approximately 15% to 20% of all mesothelioma diagnoses and is the second most common form after pleural mesothelioma. Despite its relative rarity, peritoneal mesothelioma has seen significant treatment advances in recent decades.

The prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma has improved substantially with the development of cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC. This specialized surgical approach involves removing visible tumor tissue from the abdominal cavity and then bathing the area with heated chemotherapy solution to destroy remaining microscopic cancer cells.

Survival Rates and Treatment Outcomes

At specialized treatment centers, patients who undergo CRS with HIPEC have achieved median survival times exceeding 53 months — significantly better than the 12- to 18-month median typically seen with pleural mesothelioma. Five-year survival rates of 50% or more have been reported in carefully selected patients.

Not all patients are candidates for this aggressive surgical approach. The Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) is used to assess tumor burden and determine surgical eligibility. Patients with lower PCI scores, epithelioid cell type, and good overall health tend to achieve the best outcomes.

Accessing Specialized Treatment

CRS with HIPEC is a highly specialized procedure performed at only a limited number of medical centers. Patients may need to travel to access this treatment, which can involve significant expense. Understanding your legal rights to compensation is essential for ensuring access to the best available care.

Veterans with mesothelioma may have additional options through the VA healthcare system. Regardless of how treatment is funded, seeking evaluation at a center experienced in peritoneal mesothelioma surgery can make a meaningful difference in outcomes and quality of life.