ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To identify the importance of the right and left gastric arteries, as well as the gastroepiploic arteries, for the localization of focal gastric lesions from axial images of abdominal MDCTs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Axial image interpretations from abdominal MDCTs were performed to diagnose the location of focal gastric lesions. The interpretations were performed on 72 patients retrospectively by two radiologists who were blinded from the endoscopic and surgical results by consensus at two different time intervals. No information was provided to the observers, who were asked to determine the precise location of the focal gastric lesion, for the first interpretation. Next, the observers were informed that the right and left gastric arteries, as well as the gastroepiploic arteries, are on the lesser and greater curvature, respectively. Moreover, the gastric angle is on the course of the right and left gastric arteries. One week later, the second interpretation was performed using the same subjects and methods as the first interpretation. The diagnostic accuracy of each interpretation was comparatively evaluated. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the first and second interpretations was 52.8% (38/72) and 98.6% (71/72), respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the right and left gastric arteries, as well as the gastroepiploic arteries, are reliable markers for the localization of the focal gastric lesions on axial images of abdominal MDCTs.