非常に緩徐な増大を示した腹膜中皮腫の1例

A case of peritoneal mesothelioma with extremely slow progression

腹膜中皮腫は，腹膜中皮から発生し，中皮への分化を示す悪性腫瘍である。極めて予後不良な疾患で，生存期間中央値6カ月という報告がある^1）。今回我々は，CTで緩徐な増大を示しデスモイド腫瘍が疑われたが，腹膜悪性中皮腫であった症例を経験したので，文献的考察を交えて報告する。

A woman in her 80s was referred to our hospital after computed tomography（CT）revealed a right upper abdominal wall mass, which was suspected to be a desmoid tumor. Retrospective reviews of CT images obtained 8 years ago revealed that it had been already present and had gradually enlarged since then. Pathologic examination by CT-guided biopsy revealed it as a peritoneal mesothelioma. Although peritoneal mesothelioma generally has a poor prognosis, it can have a remarkably long latency. Therefore, mesothelioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis even if the mass shows gradual enlargement.