# Introduction nflammation of the gastric mucosa is gastritis. Depending on the duration, it can be acute or chronic. It usually presents with nausea, vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite, burning pain in the epigastric region and unexplained weight loss. It usually affects half of the world population. Acute gastritis is caused by medications, like NSAID (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and corticosteroids, bacterial infections (H. Pylori), excessive alcohol consumption, viral infection, extreme stress, systemic stress, bile reflux, surgery, ingestion of corrosive substances, kidney failure, ICU Patients on Ventilator, autoimmune diseases affecting the stomach mucosa (autoimmune gastritis), Crohn's Disease, spicy foods, radiation, vasculitis, etc. 1 Histologically, it is characterized by infiltration of the mucosa of gastric body and antrum with granulocytes. Pangastritis refers to inflammation of the entire stomach. German Physician George Ernst Stahn in 1728, first coined the term Gastritis. Charles and Handfield Jones and Wilson Fox, in 1854, first described microscopic changes of stomach mucosa in diffuse and segmental forms of gastritis. British physician William Brinton in 1859, first described acute, subacute and chronic gastritis. Italian Anatomical pathologist Giovanni Battista Morgagni first described characteristics of gastric inflammation -erosive gastritis and ulcerative gastritis. 2 # II. # Material and Method a) Aim and Objective This study aimed to determine the signs of Mild Acute Gastritis on TransAbdominal Ultrasound. # b) Material and Method Sonographic evaluation of the stomach was performed by an experienced Sonologist using a convex (3-5 MHz) probe, followed by a linear transducer (7-12 MHz) after obtaining Oral Informed Consent. (Figures 1, 2) The patient was administered water for gastric distension (between 200 to 1000 ml depending upon capacity and without causing nausea), stomach wall was evaluated in the body and antrum, after adequate gastric distension. The patient was initially examined in the supine position, followed by the right lateral decubitus position. The Transducer was kept in the Epigastric region, initially in the Transverse plane and fluid filled stomach was identified. Then the Probe was placed in the sagittal plane and the stomach body and antrum were evaluated by shifting the transducer from left to right. The multilayered wall of the stomach was best seen in the parasagittal plane, just on the right side of the midline, using the left hepatic Lobe as an acoustic window. (Figures 3, 4). Fluid-filled stomach was seen between left hepatic lobe and caudate lobe anteriorly and pancreas posteriorly. Whole Stomach wall thickness and thickness of individual layers (S1-S5), was measured in the crosssection, in the longitudinal section at the level of superior mesenteric Artery. The thickness of the whole stomach wall and individual layers were calculated in 20 normal individuals (control) and 20 patients of gastritis, confirmed later on endoscopy. Endoscopy was performed on the same or the next day after the Sonography. The results of the direct mucosal inspection on Endoscopy were documented and Biopsy was obtained from the involved area. Pathologist examined the presence of Gastritis. On histopathology, none of the patients had other illnesses than gastritis. Pathologic findings were used as a gold standard to evaluate the ultrasound findings. # III. # Study Design The thickness of the whole Stomach wall and individual layers were calculated in 20 Normal individuals (Control) and 20 Patients of Gastritis, confirmed later on Endoscopy. Exclusion criteria were-Simple Obesity (Body Mass Index more than or equal to 25 kg/m2), previous history of gastric surgeries, abdominal surgeries, abdominal radiotherapy, suspected cases of Acute Pancreatitis, Acute Cholecystitis, and Abdominal Malignancy. Fasting guidelines (Strict nil by mouth 8 hours before sonography) were applied. Demographic Age, Sex, BMI, Smoking, Alcohol consumption and ingestion of NSAID were recorded. Our research included both the Pediatric and Adult populations. The thickness of gastric layers on ultrasound are labeled as (Figures 3,4) S1-Mucosa. S2-Muscularis mucosa S3-Submucosa S4-Muscularis propria S5-Serosa & Whole wall thickness in the gastric antrum. The thickness of individual layers-Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3, Layer 4, Layer 5, total The thickness of Gastric wall (including layers 1 to 5), were obtained in 20 Controls (normal ) and 20 patients of gastritis. The ratio of Layer 2 to the full the thickness of the gastric wall was obtained in Controls and Patients of Gastritis. In Control group (Figures 3, 4) # IV. # Results ? The thickness of Layer 1 was 1 mm, ? The thickness of Layer 2 was 0.9 to 1.1 mm ? The thickness of Layer 3 was 2 mm to 2.4 mm ? The thickness of Layer 4 was 2 mm ? The thickness of Layer 5 was 1 mm ? The Combined thickness of Layer 1 and 2 was 1.9 to 2.1 mm. ? Total thickness of the Gastric wall (Layer 1-5) was 6.9 mm to 7.4 mm. ? Ratio of the thickness of Layer 2 to total wall thickness was 0.12 to 0.15 In Acute Mild Gastritis group-(Figures 5, 6) ? The thickness of Layer 1 was 1 mm, # ? In 5 cases of Gastric erosion (Proved on Endoscopy) The thickness of Layer 1 was less than 1 mm ? The thickness of layer 2 was 2 to 3 mm ? The thickness of layer 3 was 2 mm to 2.3 mm ? The thickness of layer 4 was 2 mm ? The thickness of layer 5 was 1 mm ? The combined thickness of layer 1 and 2 was 3-4 mm. ? Total thickness of the Gastric wall (layer 1-5) was 8 mm to 9.2 mm. ? Ratio of the thickness of Layer 2 to the total gastric wall thickness was 0.25 to 0.33 Thus, in Patients of Mild Gastritis, there was thickening of layer 2. Thickening of Layers 1 and 2 and total gastric wall thickness was statistically significant. Ratio of the thickness of Layer 2 to a total Gastric wall thickness was statistically significant. Ultrasound findings of gastritis were confirmed on gastros cop y examination (Figure7). # Discussion Histologically Stomach has four layers, Mucosa, Submucosa, Muscular is Externa and Serosa. Mucosa has three components-Surface epithelium, lamina propria and muscularis mucosa. Muscular is Propria or Externa has an oblique layer, circular layers and longitudinal layers. 3 On ultrasound, Gastric wall delineates five distinct layers from within outwards. From the luminal side-First inner hyper echoic layer, Second inner hypoechoic layer, Third middle hyper echoic layer, Fourth outer hypo echoic layer and Fifth outermost hyperechoic layer. From lumen to serosa, 1) The first Echogenic layer represents the interphase between luminal content and the mucosa. 2) The second Hypoechoic layer is due to muscular is mucosa. 3) The third hyperechoic layer is due to Submucosa, which contains Fat and Connective tissue, 4) The fourth Hypoechoic layer is due to muscularis propria or externa, which is composed of muscles. 5) The fifth Hyperechoic layer is due to serosa. The first and fifth layers represent interphases. Individual layer thickness-Normal thickness of various gastric layers were The total wall thickness of 6-7 mm S1-Hyperechoic layer, Mucosa-1 mm. S2-Hypoechoic layer, Muscularis mucosa-1 mm. S3-Hyperechoic layer, Submucosa-2-2.5 mm. S4-Hypoechoic layer, Muscularis propria, 2 mm. S5-Hyperechoic layer, Serosa, 1 mm. 3 Layer 1 and 2 represent Mucosa. Erosion is restricted to the Mucosa, hence layers one and two are involved. In Ulcer, sub mucosa has to be involved, hence layer 3 is disrupted. A penetrating Ulcer may extend up to Serosa, in cases of impending perforations. Hence all five layers are involved. 3 Gastritis can be acute and chronic. Acute gastritis can be mild and severe. In mild Acute Gastritis, the surface epithelium is intact. The mucosa is hyperaemic, oedematous, congested and red. Histologically, there are intraepithelial and intraluminal neutrophils. In severe acute gastritis, there are mucosal erosions with resultant loss of surface epithelium, hemorrhages seen as punctate dark spots with inflammatory and fibrino us purulent exudates. Acute erosive hemorrhagic gastritis is characterized by concurrent erosion and hemorrhages with extensive mucosal damage and is commonly seen in alcoholic and NSAID users. 4,5 Acute gastritis is caused by H. Pylori, other infectious causes (like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites), and non-infective gastritis. Chronic gastritis can be Type A (AutoImmune-Body-fundic predominant), Type B (H. Pylori related-Antral predominant), Type AB (Environmental-Antral-body predominant), Chemical (Reflux-Antral-body predominant) and uncommon forms of gastritis. [6][7][8] In Patients of Mild Acute Gastritis, there is a thickening of layer 2 and total gastric wall thickness, on ultrasound. The ratio of the thickness of Layer 2 to total Gastric wall thickness is significant. 9 Our observations indicate that transabdominal Ultrasound with Convex Probe, followed by Linear Probe, can predict diagnosis of Mild Gastritis and can reduce the number of Endoscopic Evaluations and further Ulcer formations. It can predict associated mucosal erosions if Layer 1 thickness is less than 1 mm with associated thickening of layer 2. In our case series, 5 cases of gastric erosions were detected on Ultrasound and were confirmed on gastroscopy. Though Gastroscopy is Gold standard, Ultrasound can be used as a screening modality in the detection of Mild Acute gastritis. It is extremely useful, # VI. imitations Gastric wall thickness differs with age, weight, sex, height and smoking and drinking habits. Reference values of whole Stomach wall thickness and thickness of individual layers vary with diet and ethnicities. The thickness of the gastric wall can be influenced by muscular contractions in the gastric body and antrum. 10 Further study with larger patient populations and control studies is needed for accurate interpretation of Sonographic findings of gastritis. The small number of control and patients is the main limitation of this study. Due to this restriction, interpretation should be done with caution. However, our study increases awareness of Ultrasound clues and the diagnosis of gastritis. # VII. Conclusion Our Results suggest that Trans Abdominal Ultrasound with the Convex Probe followed by a Linear Probe, is an excellent Noninvasive Modality in the detection of various layers of Gastric wall, detection of thickening of individual layers in Acute Gastritis. Thus, it is useful in the Diagnosis of Mild Acute Gastritis, thereby probably avoiding invasive procedures, like Gastroscopy and interventions like biopsies. It can be used as a screening method in the detection of Acute Gastritis, as it is readily available, less time consuming, cheaper, non-invasive, can be done in all age groups (Paediatric to Elder), can be done as bedside procedures and free from Radiation and can be repeated multiple times. patients. It is extremely useful in those individuals who are reluctant to undergo gastroscopy. However, endoscopy, even though invasive, has specific advantages of detection of Reflux Oesophagitis, Hiatus Hernia and extent of erosions, the status of entire gastric mucosa and duodenal bulb and most important it can obtain mucosal Biopsies. 9 1![Figure 1: Ultrasound scanning with Convex Probe showing the position of the Convex probe in the epigastric region, in transverse (A) and in longitudinal (B) plane](image-2.png "Figure 1 :") 2345920206![Figure 2: Ultrasound scanning with Linear Probe showing the position of the Linear probe in the epigastric region, in transverse (A) and in longitudinal (B) plane](image-3.png "Figure 2 :Figure 3 :Figure 4 :Figure 5 : 9 2020 Figure 6 :") 7![Figure 7: Gastros copy images showing Normal mucosa (A), Mucosa in Mild Acute Gastritis (B) and Mucosa in Erosive Gastritis (C)V.](image-4.png "Figure 7 :") 2020![Observational and Comparative Study of Utility of Transabdominal Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Mild Acute Gastritis as followsespecially in Paediatric Age group and in Bed ridden](image-5.png "Year 2020") ![](image-6.png "") ![](image-7.png "") ![](image-8.png "") 1Year 20206 2Chi Square= 0.04228 ; p-value= >0.9999999 Layer AllSr. NoLayer 1Layer 2Layer 3Layer 4Layer 5Layer 1+2Total wall thicknessLayer 2+3Layer 2/Total Wall thickness1122213840.252132.12149.150.329670333<122213840.254122.22138.240.2439024395<132214950.3333333336 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 161 1 1 <1 1 1 1 1 <1 1 13 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 2 32 2.2 2 2.3 2 2 2.1 2 2 2.1 22 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 4 3 49 8.2 8 9.3 8 8 9.1 8 9 8.1 95 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 5 4 50.333333333 0.243902439 0.25 0.322580645 0.25 0.25 0.32967033 0.25 0.333333333 0.24691358 0.333333333Volume XX Issue I Version I ( D )17 18 19 20<1 1 1 13 3 3 22 2 2.2 22 2 2 21 1 1 14 4 4 39 9 9.2 85 5 5 40.333333333 0.333333333 0.326086957 0.25Medical ResearchGlobal Journal of © 2020 Global Journals * Dyspepsia and non-ulcer dyspepsia: an historical perspective NTalley Medical Journal of Australia 145 11-12 1986 Dec * Diagnosis of Gastritis-Review from Early Pathological Evaluation to Present Day Management I LSzabo KCseko JCzimmer GMozsik Current Topics in Gastritis 2012 19 * Sonography of the stomach: an in vitro study to determine the anatomic cause of inner hyperechoic and hypoechoic layers of the gastric wall J HLim YMJeong AJR. 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The American journal of surgical pathology MFDixon RMGenta JHYardley PCorrea 1996 Oct 1 20 * The classification of chronic gastritis: current status RWhitehead Journal of clinical gastroenterology 21 1995 * Novel sonographic clues for diagnosis of antral gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection: a clinical study ECakmakci BUcan BColak HGCinar Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine 33 9 2014 Sep * Gastrointestinal wall the thickness measured with transabdominal ultrasonography and its relationship to demographic factors in healthy subjects KNylund THausken SØdegaard GEEide OHGilja Ultraschall in der Medizin-European Journal of Ultrasound 33 07 2012 Dec