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NIGER DELTA JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & MEDICAL RESEARCH

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Archive | ISSUE: 160, Volume: Jul-Sep-2026

A FATAL CASE OF ACUTE MASSIVE GASTRIC DILATATION PRESENTING WITH SYNCOPE: A RARE BOWL SHAPED STOMACH APPEARANCE ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY


Author:Yakup Kadri Erdo?an, Ali Karakus

published date:2026-Sep-14

FULL TEXT in - | page 110–113

Abstract

Background: Acute massive gastric dilatation (AMGD) is a rare but potentially fatal emergency characterised by extreme gastric distension that may rapidly progress to ischaemia, necrosis, perforation, and sudden cardiovascular collapse. Early diagnosis is often challenging because of its rarity and non-specific clinical presentation.

Case Presentation: A 28-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with syncope and a history of long standing abdominal distension. Computed tomography demonstrated a massively dilated stomach with a characteristic bowl shaped configuration consistently observed on the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. Prompt nasogastric decompression and supportive treatment were initiated; however, the patient developed sudden cardiac arrest during transfer for hospital admission and died despite advanced cardiac life support.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of recognising AMGD as a life-threatening emergency in patients presenting with syncope and marked abdominal distension. The characteristic bowl-shaped stomach appearance on computed tomography may represent an important radiological red-flag sign, facilitating earlier diagnosis and timely intervention.

Keywords: Acute gastric dilatation, Bowl-shaped stomach, syncope, Computed tomography, Emergency medicine, Sudden death

Keywords: Acute gastric dilatation, Bowl-shaped stomach, syncope, Computed tomography, Emergency medicine

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FULL TEXT in - | page 110–113

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