Cancer cells, often desquamated in clusters, disseminated over the walls of the parietal peritoneum or the visceral peritoneum (fallopian tubes, uterus, intestine) of the abdominal cavity.
This dissemination impedes the physiological lymphatic resorption in the area of the diaphragmatic cupolas and increases the secretion of the adjacent healthy peritoneum, resulting in the formation of ascites.