MENETRIERS DISEASE EVALUATED SERIALLY BY ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY

We report the case of a 3-year-old boy with Menetrier's disease who pr esented with prominent anasarca associated with hypoproteinemia, but n o proteinuria. An early sonogram of the stomach demonstrated thickenin g of the gastric wall which was found to resolve gradually on serial s onograms. Consequently, we considered that the submucosal layer of the gastric wall was particularly thickened as a result of Menetrier's di sease. A gastric biopsy was performed 18 days after onset of the disea se, and an electron-microscopic examination of the sample disclosed pe rsistent widening of gastric tight junctions by more than 10 nm. The p atient made a full recovery on supportive treatment in 3 weeks, Ultras onography provided us with a potent tool not only in making the diagno sis, but also in following the course of the disease.