title: Sonographic findings in tuberculous peritonitis of wet-ascitic type.
abstract: Sonograms in 46 patients with tuberculous peritonitis of the wet-ascitic type were analysed retrospectively. The ascites was clear in 24 patients (52%). There were fixed membranes, septa and debris in eight patients (17%), floating debris in six patients (13%), mobile strands or membranes in four patients (9%), and fixed septa in four patients (9%). The patients were divided into two groups depending on the amount of ascites: small amount of ascites with clear fluid in eight patients (17%), and moderate or large amount of ascites with clear or complex fluid in 38 patients (83%). Associated findings were omental 'cake' (26%), hepatomegaly (24%), thickened mesentery with adherent small bowel loop (22%), splenomegaly (20%), pleural effusion (17%), lymphadenopathy (13%), and thickening of the ileal wall (7%). The sonographic findings are not specific for tuberculous peritonitis, but may give valuable information to prevent unnecessary laparotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002432:Cecum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography