[Abdominal pseudotumor and Whipple's disease].

Whipple's disease is an uncommon systemic disease which most often affects the intestine but may involve any other organ. The case of a woman who consulted for weight loss, fever of unknown origin, cutaneous eruptions and increase in the abdominal perimeter is presented. The ascitic fluid showed exudate infected by E. coli suggesting spontaneous bacterial peritonitis associated with chronic liver disease. Antibiotic treatment and diuretics were administered after which abdominal exploration demonstrated the presence of a mesogastric mass. Echographic and tomographic studies were unable determine the origin of the mass with the final diagnosis being achieved by exploratory laparotomy and biopsy.