The watermelon stomach: clinical, endoscopic, endosonographic, and therapeutic aspects in three cases.
OBJECTIVE
To date, the endosonographic (EUS) appearance of watermelon stomach is unknown, and few reports have described the effectiveness of Nd:YAG lasers in the treatment of this condition. This study reports on the first EUS description of watermelon stomach, as well as the clinical, endoscopic, and EUS response to Nd:YAG laser therapy.


METHODS
Three patients with watermelon stomach, diagnosed by endoscopy and histology, were studied with EUS before and after Nd:YAG laser treatment.


RESULTS
On EUS, a thickened antral wall with a spongy appearance in the second and third layer in the areas of vascular structures was seen in all three cases, whereas the muscularis propria was well preserved. This appearance vanished after complete laser ablation of the lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
EUS may be useful in the diagnosis of watermelon stomach, as well as in evaluating the completeness of laser ablation treatment for the condition.
Parente
F
F
Gastrointestinal Unit, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Petrillo
M
M
Vago
L
L
Bianchi Porro
G
G
D000368:Aged; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009354:Neodymium; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015019:Yttrium
D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium