Fungal peritonitis and cancer near the abdominal regions

Guidelines have recommended that structured programs to support fungal peritonitis in cancer patients should be introduced. The role of fungi in causing peritonitis is rare, but fungal peritonitis has high morbidity and mortality. The abdominal fullness may be secondary to the fungi accumulation of peritoneal fluid. The isolation of fungi, particularly Candida from peritoneal fluid samples in patients with cancer near abdominal region is an increasingly common occurrence that creates a hypothesis about the role of fungi as a pathogen or an innocent bystander in the disease process.

In this paper all the relevant papers about analysis of clinical signs, diagnosis and management fungal peritonitis in cancer patients particularly cancers near abdominal region were reviewed. An extensive search of texts published during 1950-2012 was undertaken by using identified key words and index terms.

It seems that tumor-related local factors permit fungi to cross the gut wall and enter the peritoneum, and consequently the growth of fungi, inflammation and weakening of the immune system occurs in peritonitis. Due to the lack of specific clinical signs and difficulty of isolation of pathogenic organisms from clinical specimen treatment is very difficult.

In malignant patients with inflammation of peritoneum, examination of peritoneal fluid for the fungal element (direct microscopic exam and culture) is necessary.