Efficacy of high resolution transabadominal sonography of the fluid filled stomach in the evaluation of gastric carcinomas

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of high-resolution transabdominal sonography of the fluid filled stomach in the evaluation of gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods:- Fifty one patients with a clinical diagnosis of gastric disease were included in the study. The patients were taken for conventional abdominal sonography followed by high resolution transabdominal sonography of the fluid filled stomach. An UGI endoscopy was done in all 51 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:- High resolution sonography diagnosed all 17 cases of gastric carcinoma while endoscopy failed to diagnose one case of scirrhous carcinoma. Sonography underestimated the intraluminal extent in two cases while endoscopy underestimated the extent in three cases. Sonography provided an estimate of the exogastric extent in the majority of the cases not available by endoscopy. However endoscopy has the advantage of direct biopsy being taken and histopathological correlation was obtained. Conclusion:- High resolution sonography is a supportive diagnostic modality and is a supplementary diagnostic procedure to endoscopy.