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Compressibility of gastrointestinal tract tumors during transabdominal sonographic examination: a clue to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma.

Fujii Y, Taniguchi N, Koibuchi H, Yasuda Y, Nagai H

Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Yakushiji 3311-1, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of sonography in the assessment of compressibility of the affected bowel in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma. METHODS: Thirty-two cases of advanced gastric cancer, 28 cases of advanced colon cancer, 7 cases of gastric lymphoma, and 6 cases of colon lymphoma were included in the study. To assess the compressibility of the affected bowel, a transducer was used to exert external compression. Deformation of the tumor and its lumen by compression was considered to indicate positive compressibility. RESULTS: Compressibility was absent in advanced gastric and colon cancer but was present in 11/13 (85%) cases of GI lymphoma. In the diagnosis of GI lymphoma, compressibility showed 85% (11/13) sensitivity, 97% (58/60) specificity, and 95% (69/73) overall accuracy. CONCLUSION: Compressibility of the affected bowel is a useful clue in the diagnosis of GI lymphoma.

Published 8 January 2008 in J Clin Ultrasound, 36(2): 59-62.
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