Gliomatosis peritonei may occur as a complication in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS).
Gliomatosis peritonei is the presence of peritoneal implants consisting of neuroglial tissue. The presence of glial tissue is confirmed on immunohistology.
The gliomatosis may be encountered as an incidental finding in hernia repair specimens.
Diagnosis as a complication of VPS:
(1) presence of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt
(2) presence of gliomatosis peritonei
(2) exclusion of other causes, primarily a mature or immature teratoma
The glial tissue is reported cases has been benign. In theory malignant glial cells could reach the peritoneum if the VPS was placed in a patient with a malignant glial tumor of the brain.
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