A rare, abnormally acting cancer, Pseudomyxoma Peritonei affects a person’s abdomen through a build up of mucousy, jelly-like fluid called mucin. Most often, the malignant growth begins in the appendix, breaks through the wall and spreads cancerous cells to the abdominal lining. This mucin is thick and viscous, often producing large tumors or clusters of tumors. These mucinous tumors enlarge causing bloating and abdominal distention and will eventually cause a bowel obstruction. The Cancer Center at Creighton University Medical Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.

In the United States:

• Approximately 20% of appendix cancer cases are categorized as Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma.


• Pseudomyxoma Peritonei generally progresses slowly over a period of years, producing extensive mucus accumulation within the abdomen, throughout the peritoneal cavity.


• The average age of diagnosis for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei is 44 years of age.


• As few as several hundred cases are diagnosed in the United States annually.


• Many times a patient is given a dismal prognosis by a non specialist. In general, long term survival has improved during the past decade with earlier detection, enhanced education of healthcare providers, including radiologists and pathologists, followed by referrals to specialists and improved methods of treatment. We encourage EVERYONE to seek the treatment/advise of a surgical oncologist specialist that has experience treating pseudomyxoma peritonei.

• Our surgical oncologists, oncologists and surgeons are nationally and internationally recognized for their work in developing treatment options for rare cancers


• Dr. Loggie is one of the only physicians in the region to offer Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (HIPEC)


• We specialize in the treatment of rare abdominal cancers, including cancers of the appendix (including pseudomyxoma peritonei), lining surface (malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, peritoneal carcinomatosis), liver and pancreas


• Patients travel from nearly every state in the U.S. and around the world to see our specialists

• Increase in abdominal girth, feeling of extreme bloating
• Ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen)
• Chronic Abdominal pain or discomfort; appendicitis
• Changes in appetite or bowel habits

• Appendicle Neoplasm (Benign, malignant or boarder line tumors)
• There are no other known risk factors for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei at this time. There may be some correlation with family history of colon cancer, but this has not been established at this time and we have found a lower inherited risk than expected.