Anatomic Consideration : The gastric antrum is generally located posterocaudally to the left lobe of the liver. The proximal stomach is usually difficult to delineate because of the significant artifact arising from gas in the stomach. When filled with liquid contents, the proximal stomach can be identified medially to the splenic hilum with left intercostal or coronal scanning.

In scanning the epigastric region, the gastric antrum can be demonstrated anterior to the pancreatic body and caudal to the left lobe of the liver . Intricate details of the structure of the gastric wall can be demonstrated using a high-frequency probe.

 Normal gastric antrum. (A) In an epigastric sagittal plane, the cross section of antrum (G) is visualized anterior to the pancreatic body (Pb) and caudal to the left lobe of the liver (L). The pancreatic body is located anterior and cephalad to the splenic vein (arrow) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). (B) In a transverse plane, the gastric antrum is demonstrated anterior to the pancreatic body. (C) Five-layer structure of the gastric wall is demonstrated in a transverse scanning with a high-frequency probe. Ao = aorta, IVC = inferior vena cava, SV = splenic vein.

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