Transcutaneous ultrasound of gastric pathology.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Examination of the stomach during transcutaneous upper gastrointestinal ultrasound is often ignored. Two thousand seven hundred and eighty patients were referred for endoscopy over the period of August 1994 until August 1995. Nearly half of those patients underwent transcutaneous ultrasound. We report on the ultrasonographic demonstration of gastric pathology in 18 patients. METHODOLOGY: The stomach was examined in a collapsed state after an overnight fast. No paralytic agents or water distention were used. RESULTS: Seven patients had gastric tumors. Six patients had diffuse gastric wall thickening. Large varices were seen in two patients. A patient with multiple ulcers showed irregular walls. Two patients had retained gastric contents. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the ultrasound matched well with endoscopic findings. We recommend that in all abdominal ultrasounds, the stomach should be examined carefully and evaluated systematically.

Water enhanced "non-paralytic" transcutaneous ultrasound of the normal gastric wall layers (WETCUS).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Barium studies, endoscopies and endoscopic ultrasound are the usual methods for gastrointestinal tract examinations. Endoscopic ultrasound was the only accurate equipment used for imaging the various layers of the stomach wall distinctly. METHODOLOGY: Twenty patients undergoing renal ultrasound were given 600 cc of water to drink. Gastric wall layers were demonstrated in all patients, namely mucosa; submucosa, musculosa and serosa. The echogenic layer of the water-mucosa interface was not included in gastric wall thickness measurement. RESULTS: The normal wall measurement varied from 3-5 mm. This is lower than in previous reports. CONCLUSIONS: Water enhanced "non-paralytic" transcutaneous ultrasound is a simple, safe, non-invasive, and accurate test for visualizing gastric wall layers.