What is malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, and what are its CT and MR imaging features?
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare mesothelial neoplasm arising from the peritoneum. It is two to five times less common than malignant pleural mesothelioma and is more weakly associated with prior asbestos exposure. Nonspecific peritoneal, mesenteric, or omental thickening, nodularity, or mass formation is seen, indistinguishable from other peritoneal malignancies. Complex ascites may also be seen. Patients with small tumor nodules preferentially involving the greater omentum, free ascites, or minimal to absent small bowel/mesenteric involvement have a more favorable prognosis compared to those with larger soft tissue dissemination along the peritoneum or with entrapment/clumping of the small bowel.
