FLUOROSCOPIC-GUIDED IN-VIVO GASTRIC MAPPING FOR ASSESSMENT OF GASTRIC-CARCINOMA

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The authors seek to determine if a new metho d of combining fluoroscopy and nasogastric biopsy can demonstrate the existence and boundary limits of a known gastric carcinoma or its prem alignant conditions, The study is performed in hopes of avoiding unnec essary surgery or limiting resection, METHODS. Two cases are presented to illustrate the technique, The first had a known gastric carcinoma; the other had adenomatous change in the antrum, After topical anesthe sia was applied, a nasogastric tube with a coaxial biopsy forceps was inserted, Multiple biopsies were taken in a designed geographic patter n and sent to pathology, The patient with known carcinoma received a t otal gastrectomy. The specimen was sectioned in the same regions as th e biopsies to validate mapping technique, RESULTS. Pathology results f or sectioned stomach were nearly identical to the biopsies showing the technique can accurately map the stomach, No adenomatous change in th e antrum or other sections of the stomach was observed in the second c ase, This resulted in the patient being spared gastric resection, CONC LUSIONS. Fluoroscopic-guided gastric mapping can aid in determining th e boundaries of a known carcinoma or premalignant condition, Additiona l cases and follow-up are necessary.