title: Sonographic features of female pelvic tuberculous peritonitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. ttongson@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Theera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tongsong
authors.forename: Kornkanok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sukpan
authors.forename: Chanane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanapirak
authors.forename: Supatra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirichotiyakul
authors.forename: Fuanglada
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tongprasert
mesh_terms: 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