EXCAVATED LESIONS IN THE FORNIX OF THE STOMACH WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE LOCATION AND MACROSCOPIC FINDINGS

Abstract

It was defined that the fornix is a region above the watershed which was recognized by endoscopic examination. We studied on the location and macroscopic findings of excavated lesions in the fornix. Sixteen benign ulcers including one with two lesions and 15 gastric cancers located in the fornix were discussed. Most of the benign ulcers and gastric cancers were located on the posterior wall of the fornix, especially most of the benign ulcers being distributed near the watershed and blind alley of the f ornix. Benign ulcers in the vicinity of the watershed were almost round or oval shaped, and the diameters of those ulcers were more than 15 mm. In the blind alley, benign ulcers were usually shallow and their diameters were less than 11 mm. There were 5 early cancers out of 15 gastric cancers in the fornix. Most of those early cancers were excavated. Four of those early cancers were small in size and without converging folds.