Ultrasonographic Findings of Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis in Patients with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

Park, Gyu Ho; Ko, Bong Min; Kim, Jin Oh; Cho, Joo Young; Lee, Joon Sung; Lee, Moon Sung; Shim, Chan Sup

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the ultrasonographic features of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP), we compared with the surgical and pathological findings of patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) according to the clinical groups.
METHODS
Ultrasonographic findings were compared to surgical and pathologic findings of the patients with SEP(18) who were selected from 557 patients with CAPD.
RESULTS
The patients with SEP was classified into 3 groups; Group 1: intestinal obstruction with matured SEP group (6 cases); Group 2: acute abdomen with capillary proliferative group consisting of intraperitoneal hemorrhage or hematoma (5 cases); Group 3: Re-CAPD and vague symptoms with immature SEP group (7 cases). The general ultrasonographic findings of SEP revealed bowel loops tethering to the posterior abdominal wall, ascites with internal echogenic strands. Mature SEP group (Group 1) had hyperechogenic membrane over the peritoneal surface. Capillary proliferation group with intraperitoneal hematoma (Group 2) had a round well capsulated-septated mass with internal mixed echogenic density in peritoneum. Immature SEP group (Group 3) had hypoechogenic membrane over the peritoneal surface.
CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography is a useful method for demonstrating the features of SEP and may predict its clinical course.