Abstract
This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of color Doppler with that of power Doppler in detecting gastric varices. The gastric varices were categorized as follows : F2 type in 15 an F3 type varices in four. Among 19 cases, seven had fundic varices, 12 cardiofornical varices. Vessel images of gastric varices and gastro-renal shunt were clearly delineated by color Doppler in 17 of 19 (89.5%) and at the same rate, respectively. Power Doppler was performed in 10 patients, and the vessel images of gastric varices were visualized in all 10 patients. The gastro-renal shunt were found in nine of the 10 cases (90.0%). In six (60.0%), power Doppler visualized short gastric vein which color Doppler was unable to detect. We conclude that power Doppler is more useful than color Doppler in the assessment of hemodynamics of gastric varices.
