The cells release mucus, which produces mucinous ascites (fluid and jelly). It is thought that the mucus-secreting adenoma bursts, releasing harmful cells into the peritoneal cavity, which become attached to the peritoneum. Occasionally, it is found incidentally during a laparoscopy (explorative keyhole surgery of the abdomen) when the surgeon is investigating a patient’s symptoms in order to make a diagnosis. Common characteristics are an increase in waist size/ swelling of the abdomen (tummy) mucus in a hernia sac appendicitis or ovarian cancer in women. Pseudomyxoma peritonei that starts in the appendix is said to have an incidence of around three to four per million per year. Pseudomyxoma peritonei of appendix origin The complications of malnutrition (predominantly infection such as pneumonia), and complications following surgical treatment of the disease are common. If left untreated, it will cause compression of the abdominal organs, making normal nutrition no longer possible. However, it is not benign (harmless), as it will continue to grow and will eventually take over the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity. Pseudomyxoma peritonei is often referred to as being a 'borderline malignant' condition as it spreads only within the abdominal cavity in the majority of cases and does not spread via the lymphatics or the blood stream. Usually, malignant (harmful) tumours spread via the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes, and by the blood vessels (known as vascular spread), to reach the liver, lungs, brain and other tissues. The mucus is produced by cells that have spread and grown on the peritoneum which lines the abdominal cavity. The disease results in the presence of a large amount of mucinous fluid with the consistency of jelly in the abdominal cavity, and is often commonly referred to as 'Jelly Belly'. More rarely, the condition arises in other parts of the bowel in the ovary in women and in rare cases, in other organs such as the bladder. The majority of cases result from a ruptured mucus-secreting adenoma (tumour) of the appendix. Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare disease of the abdominal or peritoneal cavity.
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