Endemic Mediterranean Fever (Malta Fever) in Southwest Texas

Abstract

So far as diagnosis is concerned, it has been observed by all writers that this is practically impossible before operation. Most of the cases have heen mistaken for tuberculous peritonitis with ascites, or for an ovarian cyst with ¡i long pedicle. In cases of moderate-sued cysts originating below the colon, in which adhesionhave not taken place, the free mobility and absence of symptoms referable to any other organ might give rise in a suspicion of the nature of the cyst, ln those that fill almost the entire abdomen or are adherent, or originate in tbe gastrocolic omentum, the diagnosis is practically impossible before operation. All of these patients recovered from operation, although some of the cysts were enormous.