HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) combined with Cytoreductive Surgery offers potentially curative treatment for patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the peritoneal surface. Available at Silver Leaf Clinic and Sahyadri Manipal Hospital, Pune — one of very few centres offering this procedure.
The peritoneum is the thin membrane lining the inner wall of the abdomen and covering the abdominal organs. When colorectal or other GI cancers spread to this surface — called peritoneal carcinomatosis or peritoneal metastases — it was historically considered a terminal diagnosis treatable only with palliative systemic chemotherapy.
Over the past two decades, the combination of Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) has transformed this outlook for carefully selected patients — offering a genuine chance of long-term survival and, in some cases, cure.
The key insight is that peritoneal spread is regional disease — localised to the abdominal surface — not truly systemic. Systemic intravenous chemotherapy reaches the peritoneal surface poorly. HIPEC delivers high concentrations of chemotherapy directly to the tumour environment, enhanced by heat, with minimal systemic toxicity.
PCI is a score (0–39) mapping tumour spread across 13 abdominal regions. Lower PCI = better candidacy for CRS+HIPEC. Colorectal cancer: PCI ≤ 20 is the standard threshold. Estimated from CT/PET before surgery; confirmed intraoperatively.
HIPEC is not just a chemotherapy infusion — it is a major surgical procedure combined with a targeted chemotherapy delivery system. Here is exactly what happens.
HIPEC is used for multiple cancers that spread preferentially to the peritoneal surface. The evidence base, eligibility criteria, and outcomes vary by histological type.
| Cancer Type | Indication | Clinical Details |
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HIPEC candidacy is determined at the MDT tumour board after complete staging. Green factors support candidacy; amber/red factors may be contraindications.
Many patients arrive with misconceptions about HIPEC. Here are the four most common — corrected.
If you or a family member has been told the cancer has spread to the peritoneum — call Silver Leaf Clinic for a HIPEC candidacy assessment. Bring all staging imaging, reports, and previous treatment records.
HIPEC consultations at Silver Leaf Clinic, Hadapsar. The procedure is performed at Sahyadri Manipal Hospital — Pune's dedicated Surgical Oncology Centre.
Also visit: silverleafclinic.com/hipec-surgery →