Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Provider
Pseudomyxomaperitonei(PMP) does not cause symptoms for a long time.
As a consequence, abdominal pressure is also a common symptom associated with PMP. Moreover, in people with ovaries, an enlarged ovary is a common symptom linked to PMP.
Other symptoms include appetite loss and a disruption in bowel habits (frequency of defecation).If PMP is left untreated, serious complications can arise, such as malnourishment or infertility in some people.
This article will detail the symptoms and complications associated with PMP.
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As mucin accumulates, the abdomen and waist get bigger. This is sometimes referred to as “jelly belly.”Abdominal pressure and discomfort are common results. External pressure, such as palpating (pressing on) the abdomen, does not usually cause additional pain.
In people with testes, the second most common symptom of PMP is aninguinal hernia, in which the intestine bulges through a weak spot in the abdominal wall near the groin.In people with ovaries, the second most common symptom is an enlarged ovary.
Other symptoms can include loss of appetite and a change in bowel habits.
PMP is a rare form of cancer diagnosed in one in three people out of a million annually.If you have PMP symptoms, see your healthcare provider for a definitivediagnosis.
It’s possible you have a more common, noncancerous condition with similar symptoms. These includelactose intolerance(difficulty digesting sugar found in dairy products) andirritable bowel syndrome(a disorder of the large intestine).
Cancers that have similar symptoms to PMP includemesothelioma(cancer of the thin tissue layer covering most internal organs) and mucinous cancers of the ovary, stomach, gallbladder, and colon.
Complications/Subgroup Indications
If PMP is left untreated, serious complications may occur from advanced disease. They include:
Superinfected PMP is a very rare complication that may cause intra-abdominalsepsis(the body’s extreme, life-threatening response to infection).Symptoms of superinfected PMP include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider/Go to a Hospital
People with PMP sometimes mention, in retrospect, that they could feel mucin moving around in their stomachs. Some people also mention they experienced what they thought was weight gain, even though their eating habits did not change.
If you have appendicitis-like symptoms or bowel obstruction symptoms, call 911 or go to a hospital immediately.
Appendicitis symptoms include:
Bowel obstruction symptoms include:
Summary
A Word From Verywell
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Pseudomyxoma peritonei.MacMillan Cancer Support.Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).Rizvi SA, Syed W, Shergill R.Approach to pseudomyxoma peritonei.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2018;10(5):49-56. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v10.i5.49Sullivan BJ, Bolton N, Sarpel U, Magge D.A unique presentation of superinfected pseudomyxoma peritonei secondary to a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.World J Surg Onc. 2019;17(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1578-8Pseudomyxoma Survivor.Stories.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendicitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Understanding an intestinal obstruction.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Pseudomyxoma peritonei.MacMillan Cancer Support.Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).Rizvi SA, Syed W, Shergill R.Approach to pseudomyxoma peritonei.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2018;10(5):49-56. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v10.i5.49Sullivan BJ, Bolton N, Sarpel U, Magge D.A unique presentation of superinfected pseudomyxoma peritonei secondary to a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.World J Surg Onc. 2019;17(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1578-8Pseudomyxoma Survivor.Stories.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendicitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Understanding an intestinal obstruction.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Pseudomyxoma peritonei.MacMillan Cancer Support.Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).Rizvi SA, Syed W, Shergill R.Approach to pseudomyxoma peritonei.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2018;10(5):49-56. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v10.i5.49Sullivan BJ, Bolton N, Sarpel U, Magge D.A unique presentation of superinfected pseudomyxoma peritonei secondary to a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.World J Surg Onc. 2019;17(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1578-8Pseudomyxoma Survivor.Stories.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendicitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Understanding an intestinal obstruction.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Pseudomyxoma peritonei.
MacMillan Cancer Support.Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).
Rizvi SA, Syed W, Shergill R.Approach to pseudomyxoma peritonei.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2018;10(5):49-56. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v10.i5.49
Sullivan BJ, Bolton N, Sarpel U, Magge D.A unique presentation of superinfected pseudomyxoma peritonei secondary to a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.World J Surg Onc. 2019;17(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1578-8
Pseudomyxoma Survivor.Stories.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendicitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Understanding an intestinal obstruction.
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