Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Morgan M, Bell D, Knipe H, Areae gastricae. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38488
Areae gastricae are a normal finding on double contrast images of the stomach.
Radiographic features
- fine reticular network of barium-coated grooves between 1-5 mm islands/areas of gastric mucosa
- may be seen in ~70-80% of patients if there is adequate high-density barium coating of the stomach
- more visible in older patients 2
Related pathology
Although a normal finding, some think that prominence of the areae gastricae indicates a thinning of the normal mucus layer (thus allowing barium to coat the fine channels between the areas of gastric mucosa). Some suggest that there may be an association between thinning of the normal mucus layer, coarsened-appearing areae gastricae, and hypersecretory gastropathy 4.
Small or absent area gastricae may be seen in atrophic gastritis 5.
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1. Rubesin SE, Herlinger H. The effect of barium suspension viscosity on the delineation of areae gastricae. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1986;146 (1): 35-8. doi:10.2214/ajr.146.1.35 - Pubmed citation
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2. Charagundla SR, Levine MS, Langlotz CP et-al. Visualization of areae gastricae on double-contrast upper gastrointestinal radiography: relationship to age of patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;177 (1): 61-3. doi:10.2214/ajr.177.1.1770061 - Pubmed citation
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3. Gelfand DW. High density, low viscosity barium for fine mucosal detail on double-contrast upper gastrointestinal examinations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1978;130 (5): 831-3. doi:10.2214/ajr.130.5.831 - Pubmed citation
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4. Watanabe H, Magota S, Shiiba S et-al. Coarse areae gastricae in the proximal body and fundus: a sign of gastric hypersecreton. Radiological and endoscopic correlation. Radiology. 1983;146 (2): 303-6. doi:10.1148/radiology.146.2.6849077 - Pubmed citation
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5. Brant WE, Helms C. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1608319121. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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