Masaru KATOH¹, Kazuo TAKEUCHI², Naoya MURASHIMA², Yukiya YOSHIDA², Masao NAKAJIMA²

¹Genetics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, ²Department of Gastroenterology Toranomon Hospital

キーワード : Pseudomyxoma peritonei, Ultrasound

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is difficult to diagnose correctly by preoperative imaging methods. We recently used ultrasound to evaluate four patients with this condition. Except for one patient examined by US for the first time in our hospital, three patients were correctly diagnosed by real-time ultrasound with an electric scanner. The main ultrasound findings of the four patients were as follows; regional fluid collections containing diffusely scattered fine echoes, scalloping of the liver surface, displacement of the bowels, numerous tiny polycystic masses, cystic masses of the appendix or ovaries, calcification, and vibrating fine echoes in the fluid detected while scanning with pressure. Among these findings, a regional fluid collection, scalloping of the liver surface, and vibrating fine echoes detected while scanning with pressure were the essential features for the ultrasound diagnosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei.