Primary peritoneal carcinoma presenting as a case of ascites.

Primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) was first described in 1959 by Swerdlow. It is a rare malignant tumor of the peritoneal cavity. Clinically and histologically it is similar to advanced-stage serous ovarian carcinoma that develops from the peritoneum lining the pelvis and abdomen and is characterized by abdominal carcinomatosis, uninvolved or minimally involved ovaries, and no identifiable primary tumor. This cancer spreads widely inside the peritoneal cavity and mostly involves the omentum. There is some thought that the peritoneal cells that give rise to peritoneal cancer may actually be leftover ovarian cells that remained in the abdomen during development. It is almost exclusively found in women. Clinical features include abdominal swelling, constipation, gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss.