Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Peritoneal Disorders
Your peritoneum is the tissue that lines your abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in your abdomen. A liquid, peritoneal fluid, lubricates the surface of this tissue.
Disorders of the peritoneum are not common. They include:
- Peritonitis - an inflammation of the peritoneum
- Cancer
- Complications from peritoneal dialysis
Your doctor may use imaging tests or lab tests to analyze the peritoneal fluid to diagnose the problem. Treatment of peritoneal disorders depends on the cause.
It sits within Digestive System.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Peritoneal Disorders
2,185 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Hydrochloride With Atezolizumab and/or Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal CancerNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Targeted Therapy Directed by Genetic Testing in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Advanced Solid Tumors, The ComboMATCH Screening TrialNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
- A Study of ART0380 for the Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Solid TumorsArtios Pharma Ltd
- The Cancer Connected Access and Remote Expertise Beyond Walls Program to Provide In-Home Cancer Treatment and Improve Treatment Satisfaction in Cancer Patients Living in the Florida Panhandle and Surrounding AreasMayo Clinic
- Deep Neuromuscular Blockade and a Low-Residue Diet for the Surgical Field in vNOTES HysterectomyFatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital
- TORC1/2 Inhibitor MLN0128 and Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma or Advanced Solid TumorsNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
Research already completed
- Low vs Medium Pressure PneumoperitoneumUniversity Children's Hospital, Zurich
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- PeritonitisJohns Hopkins Medicine
- PeritonitisMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Diagnosis and Tests
- Abdominal exploration - seriesMedical Encyclopedia
- Abdominal UltrasoundRadiological Society of North America
- Peritonitis Diagnosis and TreatmentJohns Hopkins Medicine
Related Issues
- Ascites: A Common Problem in People with CirrhosisAmerican College of Gastroenterology
- Familial Mediterranean FeverMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Peritoneal PortsRadiological Society of North America
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Peritoneal DiseasesNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: PeritonitisNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Peritoneal Diseases. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Peritoneal Disorders, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.