Imaging in malignant peritoneal neoplasms

Peritoneal malignancies encompass a diverse range of tumors originating within the peritoneum, including primary tumors such as mesothelioma and primary serous peritoneal carcinoma or secondary tumors resulting from the spread of cancers from gastrointestinal, gynecological, and extra-abdominal sources. The traditional approach of palliative care for these malignancies is being replaced by a multimodal strategies that integrates surgery with systemic or intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Notably, cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy has shown significant improvements in survival rates. Imaging is crucial in the multidisciplinary management of these tumors, aiding in diagnosis, staging, restaging, and monitoring therapy response. It is also vital for appropriate patient selection, using the acronym “PAUSE”, which involves assessing tumor burden via the peritoneal carcinomatosis index, evaluating patients pre- and post-therapy, detecting complications following therapy, and predicting treatment outcomes. This review explores the imaging manifestations of peritoneal malignancies, distinguishing them from various mimics, and underscores the importance of imaging modalities such as CT, MRI, PET/CT, and PET/MRI in effective decision-making and management.