ENDOSCOPIC SONOGRAPHY OF THE STOMACH - FINDINGS IN BENIGN AND MALIGNANT LESIONS

Endoscopic sonography combines direct visualization of the luminal sur face of the gut with sonographic examination of the gut walt and surro unding structures. Lesions arising from different layers of the wall c an be identified, staged, and in some cases characterized. Endoscopic sonography is complementary to endoscopy, barium studies, transabdomin al sonography, and CT examination of gastrointestinal lesions. A thoro ugh examination with endoscopic sonography may determine the layer of origin, size, echogenicity, and extent of gastric lesions and allows d ifferentiation of lesions arising in the stomach from lesions arising outside the stomach. The purpose of this essay is to illustrate the fi ndings from endoscopic sonography of a variety of benign and malignant lesions of the stomach.