Metastatic peritoneal mesothelioma in the setting of recurrent ascites: a case report

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is uncommon but rapidly fatal with a median survival of less than 1 year. The diagnosis of this entity is often delayed because of the nonspecific presenting symptoms and nonspecific cytological features of the mesothelial cells in the peritoneal fluids. A 72-year-old man who had no known history of exposure to asbestos and had longstanding refractory ascites thought to be secondary to alcoholic cirrhosis was found to have widespread metastatic malignant mesothelioma involving the lung, liver, pancreas, peritoneal, and pelvic wall, skin and subcutaneous tissue.