Transdiaphragmatic leakage of ascites in cirrhotic patients: evaluation with ultrafast gradient echo MR imaging and intraperitoneal contrast enhancement.

The utility of intraperitoneal instillation of Gd-DTPA and ultrafast MR imaging in the diagnosis of transdiaphragmatic leakage of ascites was assessed in two cirrhotic patients with right-sided pleural effusion. Contrast-enhanced serial snapshot-FLASH reliably demonstrated the communication between the peritoneal and the pleural cavities in both patients. In one case, a right-sided diaphragmatic defect could be exactly localized.