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Multimodality imaging of common and uncommon peritoneal diseases: a review for radiologists

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Abstract

Peritoneal disease can be caused by a wide spectrum of pathologies. While peritoneal disease is usually caused by primary or secondary malignancies, benign diseases can occur and mimic malignancies. This article begins with an overview of peritoneal embryology and anatomy followed by a detailed description of the multimodality imaging appearance of peritoneal diseases. Common diseases include peritoneal carcinomatosis, pseudomyxoma peritonei, lymphomatosis, sarcomatosis, and tuberculous peritonitis. The uncommon diseases which cause peritoneal disease include desmoid fibromatosis, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, malignant mesothelioma, well-differentiated mesothelioma, multicystic mesothelioma, papillary serous carcinoma, leiomyomatosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, inflammatory pseudotumor and amyloidosis. This manuscript will help the radiologist become familiar with the different peritoneal spaces, pathways of spread, multimodality imaging appearance and differential diagnoses of peritoneal diseases in order to report the essential information for surgeons and oncologists to plan treatment.

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Abbreviations

US:

Ultrasound

CT:

Computed tomography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PET/CT:

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography

PMP:

Pseudomyxoma peritonei

GIST:

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor

DSRCT:

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor

EH:

Extramedullary hematopoiesis

IPT:

Inflammatory pseudotumor

FDG:

Fluorodeoxyglucose

SUV:

Standard uptake value

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Acknowledgments

David L. Bier for medical illustrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Unit 1473, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030-4009, USA

    Rafael A. Vicens, Madhavi Patnana, Ott Le, Priya R. Bhosale, Tara L. Sagebiel & Aparna Balachandran

  2. Department of Radiology, Mayo Cinic, 13400 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA

    Christine O. Menias

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  1. Rafael A. Vicens
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Vicens, R.A., Patnana, M., Le, O. et al. Multimodality imaging of common and uncommon peritoneal diseases: a review for radiologists. Abdom Imaging 40, 436–456 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-014-0224-8

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