Benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum: the occurrence of an adult entity in a child.

Benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum is considered a disease of adulthood occurring predominantly in women. We report a case of benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum in an 11-year-old boy. The innumerable cystic lesions that varied in size occupied the entire peritoneal cavity. He underwent two laparotomies in a period of 15 months during which a partial removal of the tumor was performed. Four years after the second operation the child is well and active, despite significant tumor tissue left behind after the first two operations. The management of this disease is discussed, and the importance of a conservative approach minimizing the number of laparotomies and avoiding radical surgical intervention especially in childhood is emphasized.