EVALUATION OF ULTRASONIC TOMOGRAPHY OF THE GASTRIC WALL USING A HIGH RESOLUTION ANNULAR ARRAY PROBE WITH SPECIAL REFERRENCE TO MUSCULARIS MUCOSA

Abstract

Using a high resolution annular array ultrasonic probe, we analyzed the coherence between the muscularis mucosa and a fine high echoic layer (2b layer) scanned near the base of the second hypoechoic layer. The object used in this analysis are 16 specimens of gastric cancer after formalin fixation. In 3 of the 16 specimens, the muscularis mucosa was found to consist of 2 layers, outer longitudinal and inner circular. In other three cases, loose connective tissues were found between the proper gastric gland and muscularis mucosa. The histological distance between the bottom line of the proper gastric gland and muscularis mucosa averaged 0.317±0.012 mm and the ultrasonic distance between 2b and third hyperechoic layers averaged 0.378±0.007 mm. Statistically there was no difference. The coefficient of the correlation is 0.703 ; thus the correlation is significant. The fine high echoic layer scanned near the base of the second hypoechoic layer is thought to be the boundary line echo between the proper gastric gland and tissue on the serosal side.