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The watermelon stomach: clinical, endoscopic, endosonographic, and therapeutic aspects in three cases
F Parente1, M Petrillo, L Vago
1Gastrointestinal Unit, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Background And Study Aims:
To date, the endosonographic (EUS) appearance of watermelon stomach is unknown, and few reports have described the effectiveness of Nd:YAG lasers in the treatment of this condition. This study reports on the first EUS description of watermelon stomach, as well as the clinical, endoscopic, and EUS response to Nd:YAG laser therapy.
Patients And Methods:
Three patients with watermelon stomach, diagnosed by endoscopy and histology, were studied with EUS before and after Nd:YAG laser treatment.
Results:
On EUS, a thickened antral wall with a spongy appearance in the second and third layer in the areas of vascular structures was seen in all three cases, whereas the muscularis propria was well preserved. This appearance vanished after complete laser ablation of the lesions.
Conclusions:
EUS may be useful in the diagnosis of watermelon stomach, as well as in evaluating the completeness of laser ablation treatment for the condition.