Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 5, Issue 5 269-273, Copyright © 1986 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
The sonographic appearance of duodenal lesions
L. E. Derchi, T. Ierace, L. De Pra, L. Solbiati, G. Rizzatto and F. Musante
The sonographic findings in 17 patients with duodenal tumors and in one
patient with a benign ulcer and stricture of the duodenum were reviewed. An
abdominal mass was detected sonographically in all patients; in 15 of 18
cases, such lesions presented high-level central echoes and hypoechoic
periphery. Identification of the duodenal origin of the disease was
possible by sonography in only 16 of 18 patients: by evaluation of the
relationship of the mass with abdominal vessels in eight patients; by
demonstrating that the lesion was continuous with a normal duodenum in
seven patients; or by demonstrating the mass within the duodenum itself in
one patient. Signs and symptoms of duodenal tumors are usually nonspecific,
and sonography can be used as the first imaging method in these cases. A
careful analysis of the relationship of the tumor to surrounding structures
may allow correct identification of its origin.
