ANTRAL NODULARITY, FOLD THICKNESS, AND NARROWING - SIGNS ON THE UPPERGASTROINTESTINAL SERIES THAT MAY INDICATE CHRONIC ACTIVE GASTRITIS SECONDARY TO HELICOBACTER-PYLORI
Jd. Crocker et Gn. Bender, ANTRAL NODULARITY, FOLD THICKNESS, AND NARROWING - SIGNS ON THE UPPERGASTROINTESTINAL SERIES THAT MAY INDICATE CHRONIC ACTIVE GASTRITIS SECONDARY TO HELICOBACTER-PYLORI, Investigative radiology, 30(8), 1995, pp. 480-483
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this retrospective study was
to investigate any association between the classic radiographic findin
gs of nonerosive gastritis on the upper gastrointestinal (GI) series (
antral nodularity, fold thickening, and narrowing) and histologically
proven gastritis secondary to Helicobacter pylori. METHODS. The author
s reviewed the histopathologic results of 31 patients who had upper GI
barium examinations with the findings listed above who presented with
dyspepsia, These patients were compared with 30 dyspeptic patients wh
o had radiographically normal antrums, RESULTS. Twenty (64.5%) patient
s had chronic active gastritis and tested positive for H pylori organi
sm, 5 (16.1%) were normal, 5 (16.1%) had inflammation but were negativ
e for H pylori, and 1 (3.2%) had an insufficient amount of tissue, The
barium upper GI series was 66.7% sensitive and 69.4% specific for chr
onic active gastritis secondary to H pylori (P = 0.0002 Fisher's exact
test), with a positive predictive value of 64.5% and a negative predi
ctive value of 83.3%. CONCLUSIONS. The differential diagnosis for antr
al nodularity, fold thickening, and narrowing is extensive, However, b
ecause of the common histopathologic diagnosis of chronic active gastr
itis secondary to H pylori in patients with these radiographic finding
s, the radiologist must remember to include this infectious cause of g
astritis in the interpretive report, If the antrum is normal on the up
per GI series, other causes should be considered.