Chylous ascites due to constrictive pericarditis

Chylous ascites due to constrictive pericarditis is an extremely rare clini cal entity, possibly caused by the augmented lymph production and high impe dance to lymph drainage due to central venous hypertension. The authors des cribe a patient with chylous ascites caused by constrictive pericarditis in the absence of lymphatic obstruction. Cardiac catheterization is essential for the confirmation of accurate diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. M agnetic resonance imaging of the heart is also very helpful in the diagnosi s. The patient was symptom free and his ascites and edema completely resolv ed after pericardiectomy.