Malignant Ascites Life Expectancy, Prognosis, Cancer, Treatment
Ascites is defined as the fluid accumulation in peritoneal cavity. Ascites is commonly observed in patients suffering from cirrhosis and portal hypertension. When these ascites form due to cancer, then it is known as malignant ascites. Malignant ascites usually occur due to ascites formation in patients already suffering from cancer. Cancer may be colon, rectum, breast, liver, lung, lymphoma or pancreatic cancer. Malignant ascites show further complications in about 50 percent of patients. These complications are peritoneal carcinomatosis and extensive liver metastasis. There are several mechanisms of formation of malignant ascites and blockage of lymphatic channels is one of them.
In malignant ascites, the ascites formation is due to already present cancer. As the name indicates, ascites contain malignant cells i.e. cancerous cells. Ascites formation in cancer patient may complicate the condition of patient. Malignant ascites may further cause peritoneal carcinomatosis additionally extensive liver metastasis in 13 percent of cases. Cancers which may lead to malignant ascites involve breast cancer, uterine cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer and gastrointestinal tract cancer including stomach and intestinal cancer. Malignant ascites formation in patients shows severity of cancer and make its treatment a difficult task.
If malignant ascites formation is secondary to epithelial ovarian cancer and peritoneal cancer then it is not associated with severe prognosis. People with this leading cause may survive for years. Once the treatment of underlying cause is established, then survival chances of patient also increase. If malignant ascites form secondary to non ovarian cancer or peritoneal cancer, then it's prognosis is not good at all. Patient with this underlying cause may survive hardly for three months. Recovery of patient is visible and paracentesis is counted as a symptom of recovery. The prognosis of malignant ascites totally depends on its underlying cause.
Treatment involves diatery modification. Patient is asked to take food with less salt. There is no water intake restriction. In case of medication therapy, diuretics are prescribed. Almost 44 percent of patients show positive response to diuretics. Diuretics help in controlling patient weight. Common diuretics used are spironolactone and furosamide with dosage 100 to 400 mg per day and 40 to 120 mg per day respectively. Paracentesis is another treatment option which helps in controlling 90 percent of symptoms. Large volume paracentesis can be performed easily (up to 5 L). It do not show complications.
The survival rate of patient varies according to the underlying cause. There is very low survival rate in case of gastrointestinal tract cancer. Patient having malignant ascites due to pancreatic cancer may survive for almost 1.4 months. Same is the survival rate in case of gastric carcinoma. Patient with Ovarian cancer have high survival rate. The median survival rate in case of colon or rectum cancer is 3.7 months. Life expectancy of patients with malignant ascites is limited from weeks to months right from the onset of ascites. So overall recorded data about patient survival show very low life expectancy.
Malignant Ascites Cancer
In malignant ascites, the ascites formation is due to already present cancer. As the name indicates, ascites contain malignant cells i.e. cancerous cells. Ascites formation in cancer patient may complicate the condition of patient. Malignant ascites may further cause peritoneal carcinomatosis additionally extensive liver metastasis in 13 percent of cases. Cancers which may lead to malignant ascites involve breast cancer, uterine cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer and gastrointestinal tract cancer including stomach and intestinal cancer. Malignant ascites formation in patients shows severity of cancer and make its treatment a difficult task.
Malignant Acites Prognosis
If malignant ascites formation is secondary to epithelial ovarian cancer and peritoneal cancer then it is not associated with severe prognosis. People with this leading cause may survive for years. Once the treatment of underlying cause is established, then survival chances of patient also increase. If malignant ascites form secondary to non ovarian cancer or peritoneal cancer, then it's prognosis is not good at all. Patient with this underlying cause may survive hardly for three months. Recovery of patient is visible and paracentesis is counted as a symptom of recovery. The prognosis of malignant ascites totally depends on its underlying cause.
Malignant Ascites Treatment
Treatment involves diatery modification. Patient is asked to take food with less salt. There is no water intake restriction. In case of medication therapy, diuretics are prescribed. Almost 44 percent of patients show positive response to diuretics. Diuretics help in controlling patient weight. Common diuretics used are spironolactone and furosamide with dosage 100 to 400 mg per day and 40 to 120 mg per day respectively. Paracentesis is another treatment option which helps in controlling 90 percent of symptoms. Large volume paracentesis can be performed easily (up to 5 L). It do not show complications.
Malignant Ascites Life Expectancy
The survival rate of patient varies according to the underlying cause. There is very low survival rate in case of gastrointestinal tract cancer. Patient having malignant ascites due to pancreatic cancer may survive for almost 1.4 months. Same is the survival rate in case of gastric carcinoma. Patient with Ovarian cancer have high survival rate. The median survival rate in case of colon or rectum cancer is 3.7 months. Life expectancy of patients with malignant ascites is limited from weeks to months right from the onset of ascites. So overall recorded data about patient survival show very low life expectancy.
Malignant Ascites Life Expectancy, Prognosis, Cancer, Treatment
Reviewed by Simon Albert
on
August 04, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by Simon Albert
on
August 04, 2017
Rating:
