Diagnostic Dilemma of Tubercular Ascites, where we are.

I north india during the routine clinical rounds, we are observing a number o f cases wi th mass ive ascites whose liver function tests are quite normal and most of the time routine investigations like abodimnal ultrasonography and chest x-ray are not rewarding. In government setup where most of the patients are of low socioeconomic status, it is always a challenging task to make the etiological diagnosis specially in the cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis l ike tubercular ascites. Because most of the time ascitic fluid cytological and biochemical analysis is non-conclusive and radiological examination is not rewarding.