Peritoneal Mesothelioma Not Caused by Asbestos Malignant peritoneal melanoma develops in the abdominal lining. It is less common than pleural mesothelioma and it affects women more than men. People suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma usually exhibit vague symptoms, such as abdominal pain constipation, weight loss or diarrhoea. A mesothelioma specialist can