Abstract
We evaluated color flow images of ten esophageal variceal patients and nine gastric variceal patients by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) using Power Doppler by comparison with endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography (color Doppler). EUS using Power Doppler was better than color Doppler in the capability of depicting variceal blood flow. It was difficult to depict variceal color flow images having different velocities via color Doppler. On the other hand, we could detect variceal color flow images graphically via Power Doppler. However, it was impossible to visualize the direction of blood flow in varices and perforating veins. We conclude that EUS using Power Doppler is a useful modality to evaluate the hemodynamics of esophago-gastric varices.
