A preliminary study of intra-luminal ultrasonography in diagnosis of small bowel diseases

Abstract

Objective To study the application of intra-luminal ultrasonography （ intra-small intestinal uhrasonography, ISIU） in demonstration of normal small intestine and diagnosis of small bowel lesions. Methods From December 2011 to December 2012, ISIU was performed in 50 patients who were screened by capsule endoscopy, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and double-balloon enteroscopy to observe the normal tissue structures and lesions of the small intestine. Additional abdominal ultrasound （ US ） and spiral CT （SCT） were applied in patients with identified lesions in small intestine. Results ISIU was completed in 47 patients out of 50 enrolled ones. A total of 10 lesions in small intestine were detected, all of them were iden- tified by ISIU, while in which only 1 was found by US and 3 by SCT. Normal small intestinal wall demon- strated 6 layers under ISIU, with slight difference between jejunum and ileum. Conclusion ISIU provides high-resolution image of the structure at all levels of the normal small intestine, and can clearly observe lesion source and internal echo, and thus help to improve the rate of diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine. Key words: Capsule endoscopes; Double-Balloon enteroscopy; Intra-small intestinal ultrasonography ; Diagnosis ;