Use of ultrasonic surgical aspirator in operative cytoreduction of pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei presents a unique challenge to the surgical oncologist. Residual gelatinous tumor with varying degrees of adherence always remains on the abdominal viscera after standard excisional therapy. Traditionally, this has been removed by "electroevaporation" with ball-tip diathermy, but this is associated with an extensive peritoneal burn and associated ileus. We describe the use of an ultrasonic surgical aspirator as a safe and efficient method of tumor removal in this condition.