Document Type
Article
Department
Cardiology
Abstract
Retrospective analysis of 45 patients (33 females, 12 males) with cytologically-proven malignant ascites is presented. Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom (69%). Fiftythree percent cases had low serum albumin. Ascitic fluid was haemorrhagic or serosanguinous in 48% cases, in the rest it was clear or straw-coloured. Peritoneal effusion was exudative in 84% cases. Mean glucose content of ascitic fluid was 95 mg/dl and the mean white cell count of 919 cells/cmm. Vast majority (82%) of the cases had metastatic adenocarcinomas. Primary malignancy was mostly ovarian (47%) followed by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (11%) and gall bladder carcinoma (9%). Primary site could not be identified in 13% cases. Sixty-two percent patients received systemic chemotherapy for the underlying malignancy, of these 43% had complete or partial resolution of the ascites. Of the patients whose long-term follow-up is available, 54% were alive with a median follow-up of 9 months.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Journal of Pakistan Medical Association
Recommended Citation
Malik, I.,
Abubakar, S.,
Rizwana, I.,
Alam, F.,
Rizvi, J.,
Khan, A.
(1991). Clinical features and management of malignant ascites. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 41(2), 38-40.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_cardiol/69
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