The radiologic manifestations of diabetic gastric neuropathy and its differential diagnosis

The radiologic signs of diabetic gastric neuropathy consist of ineffectual peristalsis, solid gastric residue, elongated sausage-shaped stomach, gastric barium retention, and duodenal bulb atony. This entity is seen in patients with long-term diabetes mellitus under relatively inadequate control with the likelihood of other complications of this disease. The radiologic differential diagnoses include surgical and autovagotomy as well as drug-induced gastric motility disorders. Theories advanced to explain the pathophysiology of this entity are discussed.