The place of ultrasonographic imaging in the follow-up of Helicobacter pylori infection after diagnosis and treatment

Aims: The objective of this prospective study was to determine the USG findings of antral gastritis caused by H. pylori infection and to determine the role of ultrasonographic imaging in the follow-up after diagnosis and treatment of this infection. Methods: This prospective study included patients who were showing symptoms and signs of H.pylori infection and were diagnosed with H. pylori infection by endoscopic biopsy between November 2022 and October 2023. The gastric wall thickness was measured and recorded while the patient was in supine position from the anterior wall of the antrum just to the right of the midline using the left lobe of the liver as an acoustic window. Results: After evaluation of the biopsy samples taken during endoscopic examination, the participants were categorized into 3 groups. The antrum wall thickness was significantly higher in group 2 patients compared to the other two groups. However, no statistically significant difference was found between group 1 and group 3 (group 1-2 p<0.05, group 1-3 p=0.234, group 2-3 p<0.05). The diagnostic value of gastric antrum wall thickness for the diagnosis of H.pylori infection was statistically significant in the ROC curve analysis test with an AUC value of 0.933 within the 95% confidence interval, p<0.001. Conclusion: Our results suggest that USG can detect gastritis caused by H pylori infection and therefore USG may be useful in the follow-up of these patients after diagnosis and treatment.