Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma with Nonspecific History: a Case Report

In the United States, mesothelioma, a rare cancer, is estimated to occur in approximately 2,500 people annually [1]. Sporadic cases have been reported in Korea. Although, malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, mesothelioma has also observed in the peritoneum and pericardium. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is observed mainly in older men (median age, 72 years) who have been exposed to asbestos, although it occurs decades after exposure (20 to 40 years later) [2]. Most cases of mesothelioma have been linked to asbestos exposure, however, some reports have suggested that radiotherapy may also be a cause of mesothelioma [3,4]. Reports of malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas in women are rare. The significant variation in incidence may reflect erroneous diagnosis of peritoneal serous carcinomas or well-differentiated papillary mesotheliomas as malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Frequency of exposure of asbestos in patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma ranges from 0 to 50% [5]. Malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas are most commonly diagnosed during the fifth to seventh decades of life [6]. We report on a case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a 53-year-old woman with no history of exposure to asbestos or previous radiotherapy, along with a brief review of the literature.