Accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity. SYN: abdominal dropsy, hydroperitoneum, hydroperitonia. [L. fr. G. askos, a bag, + -ites]
- a. adiposus SYN: chylous a..
- chylous a., a. chylosus presence in the peritoneal cavity of a milky fluid containing suspended fat, ordinarily caused by an obstruction or injury of the thoracic duct or cisterna. SYN: a. adiposus, chyliform a., chyloperitoneum, fatty a., milky a..
- gelatinous a. SYN: pseudomyxoma peritonei.
- hemorrhagic a. bloody or blood-stained serous fluid, frequently resulting from metastatic carcinoma, in the peritoneal cavity.
- milky a. SYN: chylous a..
- pseudochylous a. presence in the peritoneum of an opalescent or cloudy fluid that does not contain fat.
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as·ci·tes ə-'sīt-ēz n, pl ascites abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the spaces between tissues and organs in the cavity of the abdomen called also hydroperitoneum
as·cit·ic -'sit-ik adj
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n.
the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling. Causes include infections (such as tuberculosis), heart failure, portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and various cancers (particularly of the ovary and liver). Obstruction to the drainage of lymph from the abdomen results in chylous ascites (see chyle). See also oedema.
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as·ci·tes (ə-siґtēz) [L., from Gr. askitēs, from askos bag] effusion and accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity. ascitic adj
Ascites. Transverse CT scan of the abdomen shows the air- and contrast-filled small bowel (SB) floating in the ascitic fluid (A).
Medical dictionary. 2011.