NCBI ROFL: Room for dessert: an expanded anatomy of the stomach.

"The presence of an accessory dessert pouch of the stomach has been postulated informally for years. These claims are often made near the end of a holiday feast, after the main course as thoughts turn to the pending arrival of pies, cakes, ice cream and pastries. A review of the medical literature, however, finds no mention of such a pouch. Indeed, the pouch has never been described in the anatomical record. Where, then, does dessert go, given that people often eat it after proclaiming themselves “full”? An alternative hypothesis suggests that dessert “fills in the cracks” between earlier courses. We developed the present study to address the hypothesis that an accessory pouch within, or attached to, the stomach provides the anatomic and physiologic requirements for dessert containment and absorption. Radiographic examination of the stomach traditionally uses barium sulfate or Gastrografin as contrast agents. This study is exceptional because it pioneers the use of a novel contrast agent, chocoglucofructogalactomaltolactosucrografin (Fudge-o-grafin). Because the pouch is believed to hold only desserts, we hypothesize that a dessert-like contrast substance is required to demonstrate its presence. Methods Study subjects were found by contacting past winners and first runners-up of the Sturgeon Falls Blueberry Pie-Eating Contest (n = 30). The following exclusion criteria was established: fixed false belief that fruit salad is a dessert; history of “allergy” to chocolate; belief that cheese is acceptable as a dessert when not an ingredient of a cake; having already consumed dessert on the morning of the trials. All potential study subjects stated that they always have room for dessert. Five subjects were excluded due to their having already had a morning dessert. No history of deviant exclusionary dessert beliefs were elicited. The remaining 25 agreed to join the study on condition that they were provided with pie. On the first day of the study a standard upper gastrointestinal series, using barium as the contrast agent, was performed on each subject. Next, after a week-long dessert-free fasting period, the same procedure was followed but the contrast agent used was Fudge-o-grafin. The radiographic plates were then studied by a team of radiologists, following double-blind procedures.