Gastric Carcinomas and Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS): A Report of Two Cases

Cureus. 2024 Nov 17;16(11):e73869. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73869. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Abstract

Stomach cancer remains a significant cause of mortality, as most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. The primary method for diagnosis is endoscopy, along with tissue acquisition, supplemented by endoscopic ultrasound or computed tomography for disease staging. While point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is now firmly integrated into clinical practice, it is still not widely utilized. POCUS can be performed at the initial point of contact and provides instant information that can influence investigation strategies. We report two cases of gastric antral carcinoma detected by POCUS, which led to targeted investigations. Both patients underwent expedited upper gastrointestinal endoscopies that confirmed distal gastric carcinoma. These cases highlight the important role of POCUS in triaging patients for timely and appropriate targeted organ investigations.

Keywords: gastric neoplasm; point-of-care-ultrasound; stomach cancer; trans-abdominal ultrasound; ultrasound diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports