CT of the Stomach

Abstract

Traditional methods of examining the stomach, i.e., barium meal and endoscopy, confine themselves to demonstration of the mucosa, whilst giving indirect evidence of mural and extra gastric lesions. Computed tomography (CT) is of course excellent at demonstrating the latter, but an emerging role in the evaluation of mucosal lesions has become evident. This will accelerate with multi-slice CT and perhaps virtual gastroscopy (Lee 2000). To date the major role of CT has been in the diagnosis and staging of gastric carcinoma, but all tumours of the stomach; benign as well as malignant, are well demonstrated. In addition, various forms of gastritis may be identified as well as miscellaneous conditions such as Menetrier’s disease and varices (Fishman et al. 1996; Merino et al. 1999). CT also has a major role in the follow-up of post-gastrectomy patients, particularly after surgery for malignant conditions.