Fifty-nine case of ascites not due to cardiac or renal disease were subjected to clinical, endoscopic and laboratory investigations, including bacteriology and histopathology. Provisional diagnosis divided the cases into 38 patients with ascites as the main finding, and 21 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites. After investigation, the final diagnosis was totally different from the provisional in 15 cases. Predominance of tuberculosis of the peritoneum per se or in addition to liver cirrhosis was striking, and its documentation was possible only through laparoscopy and biopsy. Oesophagoscopy, a simple procedure, revealing varices in undiagnosed ascites, points to liver cirrhosis. Laparoscopy confirms the diagnosis and reveals other additional factors for ascites as malignancy or tuberculosis.