Ascites Associated With a Pseudocyst of the Pancreas

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
ACCUMULATION of fluid in the peritoneal cavity may occur in a variety of pancreatic lesions. In approximately 10% of patients with carcinoma of the pancreas, for example, ascites may develop. This usually indicates widespread peritoneal metastases. Some accumulation of peritoneal fluid is common in patients who die from severe forms of chronic pancreatitis. In general, however, ascites is unusual with reversible, chronic pancreatic disease. A pseudocyst of the pancreas is seldom considered in the differential diagnosis of massive ascites. Although case reports have occurred in the literature, this association has received no attention in the surgical literature. In fact, a few years ago a review of 150 collected cases disclosed only one patient in whom ascites was mentioned as a clinical feature.1 The authors have observed four patients in whom ascites was associated with pseudocysts of the pancreas and in whom the association appears to be specifically related, and

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: