High-resolution real-time compound ultrasound imaging of transient protein-losing gastropathy of childhood.

We report the case of a 1.5-year-old girl with transient protein-losing gastropathy with hypertrophic gastric folds (PLGH). The diagnosis of PLGH was made by abdominal ultrasound (US) and not by an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) study as reported in many previous publications. Real-time compound ultrasound imaging showed in high detail the echogenic thickening of the mucosal gastric layer and associated hyperaemia on colour Doppler US. These ultrasonic findings highly correlated with the endoscopic US findings and microscopic changes of the gastric wall in PLGH. An awareness of the high-resolution abdominal ultrasound appearances of PLGH may facilitate earlier diagnosis and obviate the need for an upper GI contrast series.