Open AccessLesser sac fluid in predicting the etiology of ascites: CT findings
Author(s) -
R M Gore,
P W Callen,
Roy A. Filly
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
american journal of roentgenology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1546-3141
pISSN - 0361-803X
DOI - 10.2214/ajr.139.1.71
Subject(s) - medicine , ascites , lesser sac , peritoneal fluid , paracentesis , abdomen , ascitic fluid , abdominal fluid , pathology , malignancy , cirrhosis , etiology , radiology , pancreas , gastroenterology
The CT scan of 100 patients with ascites were reviewed to assess the relative distribution of fluid in the greater and lesser peritoneal sacs. Discordant fluid accumulations were found in most cases. Patients with benign, transudative ascites (e.g., peritoneal dialysis, cirrhosis, congestive heart failure) had large greater sac collections with little fluid in the lesser sac. Those patients with diseases of organs bordering the lesser sac (e.g., pancreatitis, posteriorly penetrating gastric ulcer) had larger lesser sac fluid collections with little in the greater sac. Cytologically positive carcinomatosis of the abdomen was associated with concordant fluid volumes in these two spaces. These findings suggest that fluid within the lesser sac is not a typical manifestation of generalized peritoneal ascites and that its presence should direct a search for pathology in neighboring organs and for peritoneal malignancy.