Sonographic features of female pelvic tuberculous peritonitis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sonographic features of tuberculous peritonitis in an attempt to facilitate the recognition of this disorder preoperatively.


METHODS
The sonographic findings of 16 patients who had tuberculous peritonitis were reviewed.


RESULTS
The sonographic findings showed that 14 of the 16 patients had ascites; 10 of these had fine, complete and incomplete mobile septations. Of these 10 patients, 4 had ascites with a latticelike appearance, and 2 had ascites with a parallel violin string appearance, which to our knowledge has not been described previously; 3 had particulate ascites. Peritoneal and omental thickening or nodules were identified in 9 patients. Two patients showed bilateral complex adnexal masses with multiloculated fluid with a thick wall-like tubo-ovarian abscess.


CONCLUSIONS
Tuberculous peritonitis seems to have characteristic sonographic features, especially the findings of peritoneal and omental thickening and ascites with fine, mobile septations. These sonographic findings may provide valuable information to help with further investigations and may prevent unnecessary laparotomies.
Tongsong
Theera
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. ttongson@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
Sukpan
Kornkanok
K
Wanapirak
Chanane
C
Sirichotiyakul
Supatra
S
Tongprasert
Fuanglada
F
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000291:Adnexal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001201:Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009852:Omentum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography