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Imaging findings OR Procedure findings
The authors propose to make a pictorial review of the imaging findings of malignant peritoneal disease in CT, demonstrate the added of complementary imaging techniques as PET-CT and MRI when needed, and how to apply the PCI in order to select the patients for the CRS with HIPEC.
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Conclusion
The radiologist plays a pivotal role in the multidisciplinary approach to malignant peritoneal disease, the assessment of PCI being essential to select the patients who meet criteria for a potential complete cytoreduction and those for whom CRS is contraindicated.
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Learning objectives
The purpose of this review is to illustrate the imaging findings of peritonal carcinomatosis, discuss Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index (PCI) concept and its clinical usefulness, and explore the role of the radiologist in the multidisciplinary team of peritoneal disease.
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Background
Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a condition traditionally associated with a poor outcome. Recently, a new approach combining cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has shown to improve the long-term survival in selected patients. The PCI is a preoperative radiologic assessment used to evaluate the extent and volume of peritoneal disease, which will ultimately be validated at the time of laparotomy. For that matter, the abdomen is divided into nine regions and...