Signs and symptoms
Malignant ascites
Build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity caused by tumour disease of the peritoneum. It produces distension, early satiety and breathlessness, and is one of the most frequent reasons for consultation in peritoneal carcinomatosis.
It arises through a double mechanism: the tumour implants increase vascular permeability and fluid production, and at the same time they block the diaphragmatic lymphatics that should reabsorb it.
It shows as an increase in abdominal girth, early satiety, nausea and difficulty breathing when lying down. In mucinous tumours the content is not clear fluid but gelatinous material.
Unlike ascites of liver origin, it responds poorly to diuretics: control depends on acting on the peritoneal disease that produces it.
This explanation is intended as general information and does not replace a specialist assessment of an individual case.
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