In this Article

• What is a peptic ulcer?
• What are the causes of peptic ulcers?
• What are symptoms of an ulcer?
• How is an ulcer diagnosed?
• What are ulcer complications?
• What treatments are available for peptic ulcers?
• Summary
• Peptic Ulcer Disease At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Peptic Ulcer - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease
• Peptic Ulcer Glossary
• Peptic Ulcer Index

What are symptoms of an ulcer?

Symptoms of ulcer disease are variable. Many ulcer patients experience minimal indigestion or no discomfort at all. Some report upper abdominal burning or hunger pain one to three hours after meals and in the middle of the night. These pain symptoms are often promptly relieved by food or antacids. The pain of ulcer disease correlates poorly with the presence or severity of active ulceration. Some patients have persistent pain even after an ulcer is completely healed by medication. Others experience no pain at all, even though ulcers return. Ulcers often come and go spontaneously without the individual ever knowing, unless a serious complication (like bleeding or perforation) occurs.

How is an ulcer diagnosed?

The diagnosis of an ulcer is made by either a barium upper GI x-ray or an upper endoscopy (EGD-esophagogastroduodenoscopy) The barium upper GI x-ray is easy to perform and involves no risk or discomfort. Barium is a chalky substance administered orally. Barium is visible on x- ray, and outlines the stomach on x-ray film. However, barium x-rays are less accurate and may not detect ulcers up to 20% of the time.

An upper endoscopy is more accurate, but involves sedation of the patient and the insertion of a flexible tube through the mouth to inspect the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum. Upper endoscopy has the added advantage of having the capability of removing small tissue samples (biopsies) to test for H. pylori infection. Biopsies can also be examined under a microscope to exclude cancer. While virtually all duodenal ulcers are benign, gastric ulcers can occasionally be cancerous. Therefore, biopsies are often performed on gastric ulcers to exclude cancer.

Peptic Ulcer - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

The symptoms of peptic ulcer can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?

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