Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease. The total number of cases per year in the United States is estimated between 100 and 500. There are no epidemiologic clues to its causation or association except that a small
percentage of patients have a history of asbestos exposure.
Because of the frequent dissemination of pleural mesothelioma to
the peritoneal cavity, one must rule out spread from a primary pleural malignancy as the cause of disease...