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World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2006; 12(18): 2825-2829
Published online May 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i18.2825
Gastric accommodation assessed by ultrasonography
Odd Helge Gilja, Johan Lunding, Trygve Hausken, Hans Gregersen
Odd Helge Gilja, Johan Lunding, Trygve Hausken, National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Hans Gregersen, Center for Visceral Biomechanics and Pain, Aalborg Hospital, and Center for Sensory-motor Interaction, Aalborg University, Denmark
Correspondence to: Professor Odd Helge Gilja, National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. odd.gilja@uib.no
Telephone: +47-55972872 Fax: +47-55972950
Received: March 25, 2006
Revised: March 28, 2006
Accepted: April 10, 2006
Published online: May 14, 2006
Abstract

Gastric accommodation is important for the under-standing of the pathophysiology in functional dyspepsia and is also relevant for symptom generation in other disorders. The term gastric accommodation has at least three different meanings: The accommodation process, the accommodation reflex, and the accommodation response. The gastric accommodation process is a complex phenomenon that describes how the size of the gastric compartment changes in response to a meal. The electronic barostat is considered the gold standard in assessing gastric accommodation. Imaging methods, including MRI, SPECT, and ultrasonography may also be used, particularly in patients who are stress-responsive, e.g. functional dyspepsia patients, as a non-invasive and less stress-inducing method is favourable. Ultrasonography satisfies these criteria as it does not by itself distort the physiological response in stress-responsive individuals.

Keywords: Ultrasonography; Gastric accommodation; Stomach; Barostat; Gastric relaxation; 3D ultrasound