RadioGraphics, Vol 9, 467-485, Copyright © 1989 by Radiological Society of North America
The gastric bubble: roentgen observations
JW Gurney, DL Olson and BA Schroeder
Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
The appearance of the stomach bubble provides many clues to underlying
thoracoabdominal disorders. Illustrated in this article are (1) the major
complications of large hiatal hernias: intrathoracic gastric volvulus and
ulceration; (2) diaphragmatic abnormalities including inversion of the
hemidiaphragm and intrathoracic displacement of abdominal contents because
of diaphragmatic laceration or congenital herniation; (3) extrinsic
displacement of the stomach bubble by splenomegaly (the occurrence of which
in association with radiographic abnormalities in the chest--cardiomegaly,
interstitial lung disease, mediastinal or hilar adenopathy--helps form a
differential diagnosis); and (4) situs abnormalities for the analysis of
which a simplified schema is presented.
