A case of recurrent biliary tract cancer with peritoneal dissemination treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy

We report a case of postoperative dissemination of intrahepatic biliary tract cancer subsequently treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy. A 61-year-old-woman who underwent hepatic resection 18 months before was admitted for abdominal distension. CT scan revealed a recurrent tumor in her transverse mesocolon. We tried tumor resection but peritoneal dissemination was recognized, and intraperitoneal chemotherapy was started followed by systemic hemotherapy. For 34 months after the diagnosis of postoperative peritoneal dissemination, the patient has not suffered from abdominal distension and stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract. The CA19-9 level remained low for over 30 months. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy followed by systemic chemotherapy in this case seemed to delay the progression of disseminated tumor and to preserve the quality of life of the patient. The present case shows the effectiveness of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with or followed by systemic chemotherapy for patients who had peritoneal disseminations.