X-ray diagnostics of the chronic gastric volvulus: a series of cases

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Volvulus of the stomach is a rare disease that can lead to serious consequences, including death of the patients. Among all volvulus of various parts of the gastrointestinal tract, volvulus of the stomach corresponds to 0.5% of cases.Chronic volvulus, while being detected timely, can be successfully treated conservatively or surgically without leading to life threatening conditions. So the diagnosis of chronic gastric volvulus is an important and topical problem.OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was the analysis of radiological data of patients with gastric volvulus.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Results of chest, esophagus and stomach X-ray examination of 23 patients with gastric volvulus were analyzed.RESULTS: The results of X-ray examination of 23 patients with gastric volvulus are described. In 9 cases organo-axial volvulus of the stomach was detected, in 12 — mesenteric-axial volvulus, 2 patients had a combined type of inversion. In 3 cases chronic volvulus was combined with total hiatal hernia, in 6 — with gastric tumors, in 9 cases — with perigastritis, in 5 patients volvulus was observed after abdominal surgery.DISCUSSION: In our observations, most patients were diagnosed with chronic volvulus of the stomach along the transverse axis, and longitudinal was less common. We also observed a rare combined gastric volvulus. The development of volvulus in our observations was provoked by perigastritis, gastric tumors, surgical interventions and total hiatal herniaal signs.Complaints of patients and the clinical signs were non-specific, in some cases the disease was asymptomatic. X-ray examination of the esophagus and stomach showed high efficiency in the diagnosis of various types of gastric volvulus.CONCLUSION: X-ray allows to reliably diagnose various types of gastric volvulus.