title: The gastric air-fluid sign: aid in CT assessment of gastric wall thickening.
abstract: The differentiation of apparent gastric wall thickening due to incomplete gastric distention from true pathologic wall thickening can be difficult on computed tomographic (CT) scanning. We have observed a transition in gastric wall thickening that is often present at or slightly above the gastric air-fluid or air-contrast level. The apparently thickened gastric wall in the dependent portion of the stomach undergoes an abrupt change to normal thickness at or above the air-fluid level. Review of CT scans in 259 patients without known or suspected gastric pathologic conditions revealed this finding, termed the "gastric air-fluid sign," in 57 patients (22%). While not considered diagnostic, the presence of this sign may allow for a greater degree of confidence in the CT assessment of gastric wall thickening in an appropriate clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Jewish Hospital, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO 63110.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hammerman
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mirowitz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Susman
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D013270:Stomach / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media