Abstract

Acute phlegmonous gastritis is a rare disorder in which bacterial infection occurs in the gastric wall. Gastrectomy involving the affected area has been thought to be an effective form of treatment. The mortality rate remains extremely high despite therapy with antibiotics. The authors report a case of a 59-year-old man who had severe abdominal pain with signs of peritonitis. Endoscopy showed edematous and thickened mucosal fold with narrow lumen and yellow, whitish exudate-like materials on mucosal surface in the whole stomach. Gastric juice culture revealed the growth of Enterococcus faecalis. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of abdomen showed diffuse extensive mural thickening with hypodense area from the fundus to the antrum. The lumen was narrowed, but there was no gastric outlet obstruction. There was marked thickening of gastric wall (submucosal layer) on EUS examination. Through early diagnosis without laparotomy, the patient was successfully treated with antibiotics alone without complication. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2005;31:44⁣48)

• Keywords: Phlegmonous gastritis, Antibiotics