Evaluation of gastric carcinomas with high resolution transabdominal sonography

Introduction: Assessment of the stomach is not commonly included in routine scanning protocol of upper abdominal ultrasound (USG). Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of high-resolution trans abdominal sonography in the evaluation of gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: 42 patients diagnosed gastric carcinoma were included in the study. The patients were taken for conventional abdominal sonography followed by high resolution trans abdominal sonography. An UGI endoscopy was done in all cases and biopsy taken from pathological / suspicious site. The accuracy of high resolution sonography of the fluid filled stomach was evaluated in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma as compared to endoscopy. Results: Commonest age group in the study with gastric carcinoma was 61-70 years of 35.7% and females are more affected than males of 54.7%. Commonest symptoms with which patients of gastric carcinoma presented was weight loss (73.8%) and abdominal pain (69%). This represented the advance stage of the disease at which most of our patients present. The commonest site of gastric involvement in carcinoma was the antrum – 19 out of 42 cases (45.2%). In all 42 patients of gastric carcinoma (97.7%) wall layering is lost. Wall thickness was increased in all the cases (100%). Wall echotexture is hypoechoic in all the patients. There was luminal narrowing and reduced peristalsis seen in all the 42 (100%) cases. Heterogeneous intraluminal masses were seen in 38 out of 42 (90.5%) cases of gastric carcinoma. Serosal involvement was seen in 35 out of 42 (83.3%). Invasion of pancreas is most common site involvements of spread of gastric carcinoma is 42.8%. Conclusion: High resolution sonography is a supportive diagnostic modality and is a supplementary diagnostic procedure to endoscopy.