Pseudomyxoma Peritonei

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a clinical syndrome characterized by mucinous ascites usually resulting from the rupture or extension from a mucinous appendiceal neoplasm. In rare cases, the primary mucinous tumor may be in the ovary or pancreas. A typical case shows widespread involvement of the peritoneal cavity with numerous gelatinous globules of mucin containing strips of mucinous epithelium with bland appearance. This gross specimen photograph shows pseudomyxoma peritonei resulting from a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix in a 65 y/o female patient. There was widely disseminated mucinous tumor involving bilateral ovaries, omentum and peritoneum. The cysts were filled with abundant gelatinous mucin. Image copyright: pathorama.ch.