Current diagnosis and selection of patients for treatment of peptic ulcer disease

Abstract

The introduction of fiberoptic endoscopy has altered the relative importance of ulcer symptoms in the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease. Interestingly, we now realize that 50% of ulcer patients do not have the classical ulcer symptoms and that 25% of peptic ulcers are asymptomatic. Modern forward-viewing endoscopes of small diameter enable precise diagnosis with little discomfort in 95% of all duodenal ulcer patients. A biopsy is only recommended in rare cases (giant ulcers) because the malignancy rate is only 0.024% in duodenal ulcers. The diagnostic accuracy of endoscopy in detecting gastric ulcer is as high as that for duodenal ulcer, but for this ulcer type it is absolutely necessary to exclude malignancy by obtaining a minimum of six biopsies (four from the ulcer margin and two from the ulcer base), since approximately 10% of all gastric ulcers are actually carcinomas. Whereas in duodenal ulcer repeat endoscopy is seldom necessary, it is mandatory in gastric ulcer since ulcer healing is not proof of a benign ulcer. In experienced hands endoscopy is superior to radiography in duodenal and in gastric ulcer, although there is still a place for radiography as a supplementary investigation or if the patient rejects endoscopy. When selecting patients for treatment of peptic ulcer the following aspects must be considered: natural history of the disease, effectiveness of treatment, and risks and costs of treatment. Treatment goals (relief of symptoms, ulcer healing) can be achieved as far as the acute ulcer is concerned but as yet we have no evidence that we can cure chronic ulcer disease.