When ascites is not ascites.

The case is reported of a patient presenting with ascites and acute renal failure resulting from spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder, 30 years after the successful initial treatment of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma. The delay in the presentation until the patient began to experience the symptoms due to urinary ascites, the diagnostic dilemma because of the rarity of the condition, and the possible aetiologies are discussed.