Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) appears to be a promising treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis. This paper reports the physio-pathological background of IPHC and the various studies which have been published in the literature. It points out the heterogeneity of these series and discuss the most critical points as surgical indications, choice of the antineoplastic drugs, their doses, temperatures of the IPHC, extend of the cytoreductive surgery, morbidity and mortality. Finally, several options are proposed for those points which are not yet standardized.