Abstract
AIM: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the computed tomography (CT) for differentiating benign and malignant thickness of the gastric wall.
METHODS: The data were collected from 40 patients with gastric wall thickness determined by spiral CT examination, who underwent barium meal examination within 4 wk before or after the CT examination. The CT images were reviewed to determine the degree of the gastric wall thickeness and the symmetry, distribution, and enhancement of the thickened wall. The sensitivity and specificity of CT in detecting the malignant tumor were calculated through the above features.
RESULTS: Of the 40 cases, 20 were with gastritis, 4 with hiatal hernia, 3 with benign ulcer, 3 with benign gastric neoplasm, 8 with malignant neoplasm, and 2 with no abnormality. The mean thickness of the gastric wall was 14 mm (7-65 mm). All the gastric walls with thickness ≥10 mm were diagnosed as malignancy by CT, and the sensitivity rate was 100%, but the specificity rate was 43%. The sensitivity rate for focal, eccentric, and enhanced gastric wall thickness was 93%, 71%, and 43%, and the specificity rate was 8%, 75%, and 88%, respectively. Generally, the sensitivity for detecting 10 mm- or more than 10 mm-thick gastric walls, which were focal, eccentric, and enhanced, was 36%, but the specificity was 93%.
CONCLUSION: After a comprehensive consideration of focal, eccentric, and enhancing thickness, the specificity rate of CT can be greatly increased, so further examination should be performed in the near future.
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