Diagnostic sensitivity of contrast swallow for leakage after gastric resection.
BACKGROUND
We examined the clinical manifestations and computed tomography findings of patients with leakage after gastrectomy for cancer and determined the sensitivity of the contrast swallow for the leakage diagnosis.


METHODS
The medical records of 331 consecutive patients undergoing gastrectomy between January 1992 and December 2003 were reviewed. Routine contrast swallow was performed in all patients before oral intake. Once leakage was suspected, an emergency contrast swallow was performed and its diagnostic sensitivity determined.


RESULTS
In total, leakage was diagnosed 9 of 17 times by the contrast swallow, for a diagnostic sensitivity of 53%. The clinical signs or another imaging modality often corrected the misdiagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic sensitivity of contrast swallow for leakage after gastrectomy was low. Therefore, if we employ the contrast swallow technique, we should keep in mind its low sensitivity.
Tonouchi
Hitoshi
H
Department of Innovative Surgery, Mie University, Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
Mohri
Yasuhiko
Y
Tanaka
Kouji
K
Ohi
Masaki
M
Kobayashi
Minako
M
Yamakado
Koichiro
K
Kusunoki
Masato
M
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*