Gelatinous ascites

Overview

A large abdominal cyst filled with gelatinous or mucous fluid. It is often caused by a mucous-producing abdominal cancer.

Symptoms

• Increased weight
• Enlarged abdomen
• Abdominal pain
• Digestive problems
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Infertility
• Altered bowel habits
• Abdominal swelling

Causes

• Hepatic, resulting in portal hypertension –Hepatic cirrhosis: Extrahepatic biliary atresia, α-1-antitrypsin deficiency, galactosemia, tyrosinemia –Portal vein thrombosis
• Cavernous transformation: Catheterization, dehydration, clotting disorder, omphalitis
• Budd-Chiari syndrome, due to neoplasm, collagen disease, hypercoagulopathy, OCP
• Arteriovenous fistula
• Fulminant hepatic failure (drugs, virus)
• Congenital hepatic fibrosis
• Lysosomal storage diseases (e.g., Gaucher)