[A rare cause of malignant ascites--peritoneal mesothelioma]

A 56-year-old patient (case 1) with recurrent haemorrhagic ascites for one year was admitted to our hospital for further investigation. Besides massive ascites he did not show abnormal physical signs. In addition, two 45-year-old patients were admitted (case 2 and 3) with clinical signs of acute abdomen--one having muscular guarding in the epigastric angle, the other in the right lower quadrant. All 3 patients did not have serious illnesses in the past; the first 2 patients had occupational asbestos exposure.

In patient 1 the ultrasound did not reveal abnormal findings besides ascites. Patients 2 and 3 underwent explorative laparotomy.

In the first case a diagnostic laparoscopy revealed diffuse tumor proliferations with nodular formations over the entire peritoneum--histologically a malignant peritoneal mesothelioma of the epithelial subtype. Patient 2 showed intraoperatively metastatic spread of tumour formations with infiltration of the peritoneum and transverse mesocolon. The histologic finding was similar to that in the first case. Patient 3 had a perforated sigma diverticulitis which was treated by resection of the sigmoid. Incidentally a well differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelioma was found in the resected specimen. The first two patients were treated with alpha-interferon subcutaneously resulting in a decrease of ascites production. Because patient 3 showed neither ascites nor evidence for malignancy no interferon was administered.

In case of haemorrhagic ascites of unknown cause a histological clarification by either laparoscopy or laparotomy is mandatory. Immunomodulation with interferon may be a promising approach.