The Quality of Life of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Patients: A Scoping Review

Background. Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a form of peritoneal malignancy. It originates from a perforated appendiceal epithelial tumour. Patients with PMP experience various stressful and traumatic events including diagnosis with a rare disease, treatment with extensive and complex surgery, and long hospital stays. Currently, there is a scarcity of studies that primarily aim to assess the quality of life of patients with PMP, and there is no reviews or comprehensive understanding of the quality of life (QoL) issues faced by these patients. Even fewer studies have consulted with patients themselves. Objective. To review the current literature on the QoL of patients with PMP and answer two main questions: What methods are being used to assess the QoL patients with PMP and what are the main findings?. Methods. For the scoping review, five scientific databases were searched (CINAHL, EMBASE, Pubmed, PsycInfo, and Medline). Publications that were published between 2002 and 2022 and in English were included in this review. Studies were screened by two independent reviewers against the review’s eligibility criteria. Data related to the QoL of patients with PMP in the included studies were extracted to answer two main questions (what were the methods used to assess QoL in this population, and what were the findings?). The extracted data was presented in table form and qualitatively analyzed using content analysis. Findings. Fourteen studies were included in this review. Only five studies out of fourteen assessed the QoL of patients with PMP as a main outcome, and all these studies assessed QoL in relation to surgery. Studies that assessed QoL used different validated measures. There was a consensus among studies that patients’ QoL improved by 12 months posttreatment. The most commonly cited symptom of PMP in this review is abdominal pain. Conclusion. The evidence on the QoL of patients with PMP is limited. Studies that assess the quality of life of these patients independent of surgery are needed. There is no consensus on the measure used to assess QoL in this population.