“My doctor referred me to a gastroenterologist to check for ulcers. How are ulcers diagnosed?”
My primary care doctor thinks I might have peptic ulcer disease and referred me to a gastroenterologist. I'm nervous about the process. If I do have ulcers, what kind of diagnostic tests might be done?
9 Answers
Typically an upper scope or EGD would be done by a gastroenterologist.
First, you are going to see the GI specialist to figure out why you are having some sort of symptoms. Ulcers are diagnosed through endoscopy, and they can be easily treated. The GI specialist will also chec
Alain Ades
Alain Ades
There are a few ways to diagnose an ulcer. In the old days when only radiology was available, a barium study called upper GI series would be done and this is still available today. That X-ray test can show an ulcer.
But typically, an upper endoscopy or EGD is done nowadays. This is a very routine procedure with low risk as long as the patient does not have a lot of cardiac or pulmonary problems. A work-up for ulcer should not create too much concern and many times. an ulcer is not found.
But typically, an upper endoscopy or EGD is done nowadays. This is a very routine procedure with low risk as long as the patient does not have a lot of cardiac or pulmonary problems. A work-up for ulcer should not create too much concern and many times. an ulcer is not found.
The most accurate test to find a peptic ulcer is called an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (also known as EGD). This test is done under sedation or anesthesia (so there is no pain or discomfort), and the doctor passes a small tube through your mouth into your esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine to look for an ulcer. It takes about 5 minutes to do, and although complications can occur, they are quite rare when a well-qualified GI specialist is doing the procedure (complications should be no more than 1 in 1500-2000 cases). A less invasive test, not done frequently any more, is an upper GI series X-ray, where the patient swallows barium (X-ray dye) and X-rays of the stomach are done. It is less likely to find an ulcer than endoscopy.
Another test that may be done before either of these is a test to look for the most common cause of ulcers, a bacteria called H. pylori. This can be assessed through a stool sample or a breath test done at a local lab (blood testing for this is inaccurate and I do not recommend that test). If you are young and healthy, this is often the first test performed as it is not expensive and is completely noninvasive.
Keith H. Fiman, MDFellow, American College of Gastroenterology
Another test that may be done before either of these is a test to look for the most common cause of ulcers, a bacteria called H. pylori. This can be assessed through a stool sample or a breath test done at a local lab (blood testing for this is inaccurate and I do not recommend that test). If you are young and healthy, this is often the first test performed as it is not expensive and is completely noninvasive.
Keith H. Fiman, MDFellow, American College of Gastroenterology
The most common and accurate way to diagnose peptic ulcers is with an upper endoscopy (EGD). This is a short, safe and well tolerated procedure done under sedation.
Ulcers can also be diagnosed with an upper GI X-ray.
Ulcers can also be diagnosed with an upper GI X-ray.
The most accurate method is having an endoscopy. Endoscopy allows the doctor to see the upper GI tract and take biopsies. It is important to rule out the bacteria, H pylori that has been known to cause gastritis and ulcers. X-ray exams facilitated by drinking barium is not as accurate but non invasive. One can start a workup by taking a breath test, again to rule out H pylori.
Jerome Siegel, MD
Jerome Siegel, MD
Hi.
Peptic ulcers are diagnosed and confirmed with upper GI endoscopy. It is an outpatient office based procedure, and I perform this procedure regularly in my office. If your primary doctor suspects that you have an ulcer, then you should make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Hope this helps.
Peptic ulcers are diagnosed and confirmed with upper GI endoscopy. It is an outpatient office based procedure, and I perform this procedure regularly in my office. If your primary doctor suspects that you have an ulcer, then you should make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Hope this helps.
The gold standard is to perform an endoscopy. This procedure along with a biopsy gives the necessary information to treat the disease.
Andrew Chua Seng Boon
Gastroenterologist
I am assuming that you have dyspeptic symptoms, which are basically any symptoms which are referable to the upper GI tract mainly the stomach, oesophagus and duodenum.
If your doctor suspect that you have ulcer disease, you probably have epigastric pain with or without nausea or vomiting, pain which are relieved or aggravated by food or antacids (depending on the type of ulcer), pain that occasionally penetrates to the back and more ominously vomiting blood, passing black stools or weight loss.
Your Gastroenterologist will probably request for a blood test and probably a gastroscopy ( which involve introducing a scope through the mouth, passing by the oesophagus, into the stomach and subsequently into the duodenum). The whole process takes only 5 minutes and during that time the doctor will look for lesions including inflammation, ulcers, growths, swellings, abnormal blood vessels and obtain stomach wall tissues for analysis if necessary. Gastric tissues will also be taken to check for the presence of Helicobacter Pylori infection.
if you have ulcers (either oesophageal, gastric or duodenum) then the endoscopy will detect the lesion.
If your doctor suspect that you have ulcer disease, you probably have epigastric pain with or without nausea or vomiting, pain which are relieved or aggravated by food or antacids (depending on the type of ulcer), pain that occasionally penetrates to the back and more ominously vomiting blood, passing black stools or weight loss.
Your Gastroenterologist will probably request for a blood test and probably a gastroscopy ( which involve introducing a scope through the mouth, passing by the oesophagus, into the stomach and subsequently into the duodenum). The whole process takes only 5 minutes and during that time the doctor will look for lesions including inflammation, ulcers, growths, swellings, abnormal blood vessels and obtain stomach wall tissues for analysis if necessary. Gastric tissues will also be taken to check for the presence of Helicobacter Pylori infection.
if you have ulcers (either oesophageal, gastric or duodenum) then the endoscopy will detect the lesion.
