Peritoneal Malignancy Institute

It is increasingly accepted that a subgroup of patients with peritoneal spread of cancer, or appendix tumours, may benefit from aggressive treatment in the form of surgical cytoreduction combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). This approach has been shown to significantly increase survival, improve quality of life, and potentially offer cure to patients with peritoneal metastases of colorectal or appendiceal origin. 

To cater for the treatment needs of patients with peritoneal malignancy in Ireland, and in order to ensure optimal cancer outcomes, a National Centre for the treatment of patients with peritoneal surface malignancy was established at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin. 

The Mater Hospital established a treatment programme for patients with peritoneal malignancy in 2013 and has in place the necessary medical expertise, theatre and intensive care facilities. The first case of surgical cytoreduction with HIPEC in Ireland was successfully completed at the Mater Hospital in June 2013. Since then, over 60 cases have been successfully completed.  

The centre was built on the existing international collaboration with the Peritoneal Malignancy Institute in Basingstoke UK. The establishment of a national peritoneal malignancy centre in Ireland not only supports the national agenda of improving survival for patients with cancer as outlined in the ‘National cancer forum strategy for cancer control in Ireland 2006’, but also provides an economically viable means of improving access for patients to world class treatment within Ireland. 

Peritoneal malignancy treatment centres have been established in European countries with populations similar to that of Ireland (Denmark 5.5million; Finland 5.3 million; Norway 4.9 million) and have clearly demonstrated both the need for, and feasibility of, establishing such national units. In Ireland it is estimated that approximately 100 patients annually may benefit from assessment, while up to 40 patients per year may be candidates for cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC.