title: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma as a rare cause of ascites: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare tumor with diagnostic and therapeutic problems. The peritoneum is the second most common site for development of mesothelioma, which in 30-45% of cases is associated with a synchronous pleural mesothelioma. Clinical symptoms and findings may be confusing and diagnosis can be easily overlooked especially in cases where there is no previous asbestos exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a 75-year-old woman who presented with ascites which, in the absence of inhalational exposure to asbestos, caused diagnostic confusion, and evaded radiological detection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded from this case that Peritoneal Mesothelioma although rare but should be considered among the differential diagnosis of Ascites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Warrington, UK. ansari35@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Iftikhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koulaouzidis
authors.forename: Javaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Wong C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tan