Scalloping of the Liver and Spleen on Preoperative CT-Scan of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Patients: Impact on Prediction of Resectability, Grade, Morbidity and Survival

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is ideally treated by cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), leading to significant morbidity. Beyond the histologic grade, the prognosis lies in the completeness of cytoreduction (CC-score of 0/1 vs. 2/3) and the severe complication rate. The mucinous nature of the peritoneal implants sometimes induces liver and/or spleen scalloping on imaging. The predictive value of scalloping was assessed regarding resectability, grade, survival and severe morbidity. This monocentric, retrospective analysis compared CC-0/1 with CC-2/3 groups regarding liver and spleen scalloping parameters, assessed on pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scan, reviewed for the study. In addition, prognostic factors of severe complications and recurrence-free and overall survivals were explored in the CC-0/1 population. Overall, 129 patients were included (109 CC-0/1, 20 CC-2/3), with 58 (45%) exhibiting scalloping. All patients with splenic scalloping also had a liver one. Scalloping was more frequent (75% vs. 39%), with greater median maximal depth (21 vs. 11 mm) and higher PCI (32 vs. 14) in the CC-2/3 population, but was not predictive of either grade or survival. In CC-0/1 patients, survivals and postoperative complications were not affected by scalloping parameters. Scalloping appeared as a marker of advanced PMP, but was not predictive of grade, severe complications, or long-term outcomes.