From the Guidelines
I strongly recommend consulting the most recent medical literature, specifically the 2025 study by the Journal of Clinical Oncology 1, for information on papillary mesothelial tumors of the omentum, as these are rare neoplasms requiring specialized knowledge. Papillary mesothelial tumors of the omentum are uncommon lesions that arise from the mesothelial cells lining the peritoneal cavity.
- They can be classified as benign (well-differentiated papillary mesothelial tumor) or malignant (papillary mesothelioma), with the term "mesothelioma" now only referring to malignant tumors 1.
- Diagnosis typically involves imaging studies such as CT scans or MRI, followed by histopathological examination after surgical excision.
- Treatment generally consists of complete surgical resection of the tumor, with the extent of surgery depending on whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
- For malignant variants, additional treatments may include chemotherapy (commonly using pemetrexed and cisplatin) and in some cases, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
- Prognosis varies significantly between benign and malignant forms, with benign tumors having an excellent prognosis following complete resection, while malignant mesotheliomas generally carry a poorer prognosis.
- Due to the rarity of these tumors, management should ideally be conducted at specialized centers with experience in peritoneal malignancies, and patients should be monitored with regular follow-up imaging to detect any recurrence, as recommended by the British Thoracic Society guideline 1. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2025, should be prioritized when making treatment decisions for papillary mesothelial tumors of the omentum 1.
From the Research
Papillary Mesothelial Tumour of Omentum
- The papillary mesothelial tumour of the omentum is a rare entity, with limited literature available on the topic 2, 3, 4.
- A study published in 2022 described a new type of peritoneal circumscribed nodular mesothelial tumor, which was characterized by nests or sheets of mesothelial cells with sharp cell borders and extremely bland, sometimes grooved, nuclei 2.
- Another study published in 2020 reported a case of well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma with omental calcifications, which presented as a 4.0×3.5×1.0 cm mass consisting of mature adipose tissue 3.
- The diagnosis of papillary mesothelial tumour of the omentum can be challenging, and immunohistochemical staining is often necessary to confirm the diagnosis 3, 4.
- The prognosis of papillary mesothelial tumour of the omentum is generally good, with no deaths, recurrences, or evidence of metastatic disease reported in one study 2.
- However, the relationship between papillary mesothelial tumour and invasive mesothelioma is uncertain, and further research is needed to determine the potential for malignant transformation 4.
Clinical Characteristics
- Abdominal pain and mass are common clinical characteristics of primary omental tumors, including papillary mesothelial tumour 5, 6.
- Weight loss, ascites, and peritoneal implants may indicate malignancy, but are not typically associated with papillary mesothelial tumour 5.
- Radiological imaging may not be diagnostic, but can be useful in excluding other pathologies 6.
Treatment and Management
- Surgical excision is often the treatment of choice for papillary mesothelial tumour of the omentum, with no demonstrable benefit from chemotherapy or radiation 5, 6.
- However, the optimal treatment and management strategy for papillary mesothelial tumour of the omentum is not well established, and further research is needed to determine the best approach 4.